Who determines who is a Bitcoin expert?
Donators are allowed to change the Newbie / Sr. Member / Hero Member thing:
If you donate 50 BTC, you get VIP status and the ability to create a custom title for yourself.
It looked different. I wanted to post a screenshot but the additional icons and text are now gone. I bet theymos or somebody played with the forum.
edit so you don't think I am crazy:
theymos had an icon with a couple of books
mike hearn I think had a small white on orange B