When I noticed it I found the number to be the most annoying thing about it. It shows a stark contrast between what is popular and what isn't, and I don't care for that at all. I read feeds because I have found the authors to have consistently high quality content, not because its popular. When I want that, I go hit up a social news site.

At the very least, they should be limiting it to only people on your contact lists. I couldn't care less how many random Google users liked the same thing I did. If, on the other hand, I could see that people I know liked it, maybe I would want to discuss it with them.