florinc:
What is relevant is this:
Well, I picked one, couldn't be bothered quoting both! 
florinc:
Now think of the internal npn transistors for sinking the digit lines. The "digit output to V+" is realised through a pullup resistor. When one MAX7219 is shutdown, the digit line of the one that is on will sink a bit more current (LED current + current through the pullup resistor from the one in shutdown mode). If the pullup resistor is 10k (let's say), the extra current is 0.1mA (5V/10k).
Where do you get this pull-up resistor? I am offhand unable to find it.
The Digit Drive Source Current is quoted as 2 mA minimum at (V+ - 0.3V) (page 2, bottom of chart). If this was a resistor, then when pulled down to nearly ground by the alternate digit, it would source at least 30 mA. Frankly, I doubt it is a resistor, but it clearly will be a substantial current.
By the way, you might ask why the MAX7219 has these totem pole outputs or indeed why it exists? An interesting muse; the answer would be in order to control external buffers which may employ non-switchable current sources on their inputs. In general, you could consider the MAX7221 the more versatile one and thus, preferable.