SQL Table Column Values

Is it normal that SharePoint 2010 is storing data differently in the SQL tables?  For instance, in the AllLists table in SharePoint 2007, the "tp_Fields" and the "tp_ContentTypes" columns contained a string with readable values in it.    After upgrading to SharePoint 2010, I notice these 2 columns aren't text anymore; they are varbinary containing just a bunch of random numbers and letters.  How can I view the contents of these columns?  In Powershell?  If so, how?

thanks!