The network protocol has not changed, you can always send someone whatever transaction you want, but it's up to miners if they want to include the transaction in a block. Miners running 0.8.2 can use command line options to change their dust limit.
Don't spread misinformation.
You have to connect directly to miners to get those transactions in a block because 0.8.2 nodes will not relay transactions with dust outputs at all.
Essentially speaking the network protocol has been changed.