Comment 5 for bug 883106

you are right - one icon at the top left corner is probably enough. I was also concerned about the use of the repetitive, strongly colored elements without information :-)
As you wished, here is a mockup with smaller icons.

One positive argument for the icons: As soon, as two-way-synchronisation is implemented, they can indicate the status of the note: e.g. modified, but not synced yet (maybe a pencil), in sync (note icon), syncing at the moment (arrow circle),...
But this would be without use again, as soon as background sync is there...