I too got my medical about 10 days after I submitted my POF, but I got my document request way before that. If you don't mind sharing, what POF did you include with the initial submission? Did you just include the balance, or did you also include 6 month transaction history?
I posted the wording on my CAIPS notes when they were about to issue document request
http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/applicant-from-phd-program-after-5-nov-2011-connect-here-to-get-status-t87348.0.html;msg2171728#msg2171728
which led me to believe that document request request is usually made when selection factor assessment has been done. However, it did not seem to be the case for you.
Regarding your eligibility for 5 extra points, I would just refer to the following bit from OP6B
Since you had not been assessed yet by the time you obtained your PhD, then they will have to award you five additional points! That's what happened to phdapplicant, whose relative recently had become a Canadian PR, and they (Ottawa) granted 5 extra points to overturn the rejection (yes, sometimes, it's possible to overturn Ottawa's decision).
So when did you graduate? Was it before or after the document request?