Yes I've noticed it and it looks like it's replaced the advertising that was there.
However, the annoying thing that has occurred is that once I've 'completed' all of the posts in a thread and return the the "Today's Posts", the background of that thread does not go 'dull'. I need to refresh for this to happen.
Edit: Indeed, having posted in this thread and returned to "Today's Posts", this thread remains 'bright', the watched thread red icon does not appear, the post count does not increase and my name does not appear.
2nd Edit: As soon as I do refresh, the background goes 'dull', the red icon appears, the post count goes up and my name appears.