Compared with the original Maps 7 update the main thing is that you have the Navigation shortcut again. Offline Maps still requires the "OK Maps" Easter Egg to store the current view (slower and clumsier than the old way, and being hidden doesn't inspire confidence in its support). Link to HTC phonebook still broken. And while it's pretty, I've not found any new functionality that will matter to me.
Starred favourites can be accessed under "Maps History" in the sidebar. Far less obvious and, oddly, less personal, but they are there. I couldn't spot "my maps" though.
I'm very aware that any UI difference is likely to be regarded as "worse" by default at first, but some things do seem to be unnecessarily harder (esp offline). So suspect I'll once again send feedback and uninstall.