What was the purpose of the triangular corner marking and the "points" in Lego instructions starting around 1992?

Question

Around 1992 (possibly, coinciding with the switch from Legoland to Lego System labeling on boxes?), Lego instructions started featuring a triangular marking in the corner of a page. On one side, that marking would show some graphical cue to the theme or subtheme, e.g.:

These exemplary markings are from the instructions of:

• 6401: Paradisa Seaside Cabana from 1992
• 6534: City Beach Bandit from 1992
• 6350: City Pizza To Go from 1994
• 6442: Divers Sting Ray Explorer from 1997

In the beginning, the other side of those markings contained what appears to be a points count (the larger the set, the more points it would contain):

Note how this side also contains the set number and the year - based on the instructions I'm looking at right now, I cannot tell whether it is the original release year of the set, or the year this particular instruction sheet was printed.

Oddly enough, TLC discontinued this "points" labeling not long after it had been introduced, but otherwise, the corner marking remained:

What, if any, was the purpose of those "points"? Once the points were gone, was there still any purpose to the triangular corner marking, or was it merely "traditional"/decorative by then?

Answer 1

There doesn't appear to be much information left on this. I've only really found this eurobricks thread, that attempts to answer the same question.

In summary, it appears to have been a marketing experiment that was abandoned before it really took off (it only lasted for about 2 years between 1992 and 1994). The idea was (as far as I can gather) that these points could be redeemed for rewards and/or discounts (similar to the current VIP points system).

These points were printed in the instructions for several themes worldwide, with more points allocated to bigger sets. The biggest sets yielded hundreds of points, eg. 600 points for 6086 Black Knight's Castle :

However, I've only found mention of actually being able to use them in the US, and in a very limited fashion at that. This post by star1138 in the same eurobricks thread includes an example of how the points could be redeemed (found in a US Town Mini Catalog from 1993) :

Transcription :

HURRY! Offer Expires March 1, 1994

Collect Maniac Model Points for FREE Gifts!

You can get a FREE half-year subscription to the LEGO Builders Club Magazine for only 50 Points
Or get both a FREE Police 4x4 Model and the FREE half-year subscription for 150 Points!

Here's How To Do It...
Purchase any of the awesome sets shown to the left. Collect the required amount of Maniac Model Points from the building instructions of these sets. (They'll look like the ones pictured here!)

To get your FREE gift, clip the Maniac Model Points you've collected and mail them with the order form below.
It's really easy ... and fun!

I haven't found any other examples (trawling through all kinds of instructions and catalogs from different regions in that time period), so all credit goes to star1138 for finding the above one !