i think thats about giving the users online a rough idea of the quality of the person you are going to play against
say im about to start an online game against someone with a score of 322. i'd know the guy would be shit. so if i had like 500 points, i doubt i'd gain much as you don't get rewarded as many points for beating someone below you
say im up against someone with 980 points. id know im in for a harder game. if i beat him, i'd get a good bit of his points as a reward for beating someone so high up from me
losing a match will always lose you points ! the winner gains those points imo
then again, its been ages since i played online so im kinda just guessing
