Clarification, folks, the "new" dots are not new at all. Only graphic replacements.

The first five dots on a user are each worth about 100 points. After that, to save space, you get a dot every 200 points. Originally the two images were so close to the same shade that nobody noticed, but JP apparently went and made them more distinguishable.

Short answer: Nothing has changed except the shades of green of the dots.