It seems to me, based on my observation of the way in which the 5th and 6th function effect behavior in types, that subconscious functions ought to be looked at primarily as "receivers." This is indeed how they are usually described by socionists in regards to the 5th and 6th function and their influence on what situations the person likes to find themselves in (e.g. ESFps liking to be around spiritual types (INTps, INFps)), however the 7th and 8th functions, if described at all, are usually simply described as functions that are "noticed in day to day actions and help to cope with routine day to day matters." I think, (and perhaps because of my lack of russian language skills, I am ten years behind on this one), that the 7th and 8th functions need to be looked at in the same way, and that over simplifying them takes a great deal away from understanding how the conscious and subconscious work together. For example...as an INTj, extraverted thinking (practical logic), is my 7th function. I am good at identifying what is profitable, and what is not, as well as identifying methods that work. However, I am very poor at generating profit and sticking to methods. That's not to say that I am not methodical, as I can be if it's a matter of life or death (such as keeping my job), but for the most part, I am remarkably inconsistent in many of the things I do that would improve substantially by adopting a proven method and sticking to it. I imagine that most INTjs would admit to the same. So...with this in mind, how then does Te function in an INTj? Well, to me it works like this...
Te receives empirical data. Hard, objective factual knowledge which it then stores for evaluation by the consciously controlled active function, Ti. Ti then evaluates its use to Ti's agenda, which is creating an understanding of the relationships between empirical data/facts/other theories/etc...we call this a theory, but it is really the same as all subjective/introverted functions which seek to relate information, rather than leave it at face value. The 8th function could be said to work in the same capacity, only it receives input more intermittently. The relationships between patterns (Ni) (which I think intuition is, the perception of patterns) are received in order to assist in the creation of one all encompassing one (Ne).
This can be most easily seen in the way in which theories (Ti) evolve into knowledge (Te). For instance...
A person sees an apple for the first time (and names it as such), and takes a bite. Observing that he is not dead and that he is able to eat the apple, if he is an INTj or ENTp, he might theorize that "ALL APPLES ARE EDIBLE." He then brings the first apple, along with a few others that he finds to his friends, who eat the apples without dying as well. Seeing that this first time was not a fluke, he states with purpose, that since no one died from eating these apples, ALL apples must be edible. They agree, as they have no empirical data to the contrary to dispute this, and therefore the previous theory (relationship between ideas) that "ALL APPLES ARE EDIBLE," now becomes accepted knowledge among the community. It has evolved from being a theory, to accepted factual knowledge, simply by the fact that there is no evidence to prove the theory incorrect. Now, one may debate the issue if they find a poisonous, but chances are, the person attempting to disprove the previous theory (another INTj or ENTp most likely) would have to show how the poisonous apple and the edible apple are the same, before those people who have accepted the theory (Ti) that all apples are edible as fact (Te) will discard that knowledge.
But I digress. My point here is that all theories (Ti), must have empirical data (Te) of some sort in order to exist, and that in the case of an INTj, that empirical data is only as useful as it supports whatever theory Ti has come up with. So, in the case of the 7th function of an INTj, this is where the INTj receives the empirical data out of which he creates relationships (Ti). Once the theory is accepted, as in the case of apple, a practice (Te) is created (not by the INTj or ENTp, who sees his job as done as soon as he identifies the relationship), such as the regular consumption of apples. But to create that practice (Te), the ENTj (for example) must accept the theory that "ALL APPLES ARE EDIBLE" to be true. His 7th function is Ti, and he, as if in reverse, receives theories, evaluates their use in practical application, and either implements them, or discards them. He will only store theories subconsciously that are of use in practical application, true or not true (as opposed to the INTj who will only store knowledge subconsciously if he sees it as relevent to supporting his theory).
I know this may seem like a lot of bullshit, but I think that it's key to understanding how the conscious and subconscious functions work together, and therefore, how they appear to onlookers. INTjs, despite their level of intelligence, are often very bad at remembering facts and methods, and will often draw the wrath of their High School/College writing teachers for not using enough facts to support the theories in their papers. INTjs, for the most part, find facts boring, and they are only of interest if they can help develop a theory. However, INTjs will NOT forget facts, no longer how long ago they learned them, if they retain their usefulness. This is not to accuse INTjs of being sloppy when it comes to using empirical evidence when supporting their theories, although they can be (I myself have been guilty of this). It is in fact the opposite in many cases, in which INTjs (or ENTps as well) as if realizing their agenda, will often hold back a theory from the general public because of its lack of supporting empirical evidence, for fear that it is not ready, delaying its progress significantly. But, their fears are somewhat justified, as seen in the apple story, as theories that are incomplete or inaccurate, are often just as tempting to others as a quick solution for a problem, and if implemented prematurely, can cause significant harm.
If any of these ideas are of interest to people here I will try and write some more about the other 3 subconscious functions in more depth. I realize that this may seem less about personality type and more about metaphysics, but they are, in my opinion, inescapably linked.