I work on a LOT of Subaru's (not dealer level, but a fair amount). I've seen exactly one CVT fail. So, I wouldn't say it's a huge problem but it's not inconsequential. Subaru extended the warranty more for "customer satisfaction" than anything, which I thought was very loyal of them, all things considered.
Take the Ford DPS6 in the Focus/Fiesta. It took them YEARS of updates, TSB's, warranty repairs, etc. to admit that the transmission had serious issues and therefore extend the warranty (which should have been an entire buy-back, a la VW dieselgate, IMO), whereas Subaru realized early on that there were a few common complaints, some teething pains, and PROACTIVELY extended the warranty to put their loyal customer's collective minds at ease. This, to me, shows a company that's willing to admit when they rushed something to market that may have have left a bad taste in buyer's mouths.
That being said, I absolutely can not STAND how Subaru has their CVT's programmed. I don't really care for any CVT, however when it's paired with a smooth engine... say a Nissan VQ for example, it's actually not so bad. When paired with a noisy, under-powered flat-4 in a heavy AWD wagon, it flat out ruins the drive. Even the new Corolla's that have the "fake shifts" programmed in feel better.
If I were you, OP, I would base my decision much more on the driving feel than the thought of reliability. I encourage you to go drive any CVT equipped Subaru for an extended period and see what you think. Most dealers will let you take a car for an afternoon, without a sales person, so you can get a true feel for the car. It doesn't really matter what model you drive, Subaru's are like Lego's: it's basically the same chassis with different looking bits bolted to it. Just drive it in varying scenarios, speeds, surroundings, etc. and see what you really think. You may feel different than I do, but I couldn't live with one day-to-day purely based on the rubbery feeling the CVT gives the car.
*Note* I have the same feeling about any automatic Subaru, CVT or not. The boxer engine has never had much for torque, and I've never felt than ANY automatic Subaru has had good driving dynamics. This includes the H6 models and turbo models. The automatic just kills it. I have a customer with an automatic WRX, 2.0 turbo, and it's the most gutless embarrassment in the world. Same with a Legacy, Forester, Tribeca, whatever. Subaru - clutch pedal = bore fest.
Just my .02