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.long term use of mediums causes damaging top distortion with scalloped braces?
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It all depends on how much the braces are scalloped. A 10% reduction in brace height reduces the stiffness by 27%.
The stiffness of individual tops can vary widely, so the suitability of a certain string gauge should always be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Scalloping loosens the top in the bridge area, while maintaining the stiffness around the edges. The result is more punch, since a smaller area of the top is excited when the string is first plucked.
Scalloped brace guitars generally have a bit less sustain than unscalloped or tapered brace guitars. There are always tradeoffs.