This is good information and insight, as usual.
I had the problem yesterday. I could not participate for about 5 hours. I believe it is because my voting power went to 72% or samething, quite below the supposed threshold of 80%.
I am voting much less now. Makes the experience less interesting, though. I do not feel well commenting on articles and not voting them. But hey, that´s life (I´m voting this one, it´s very early in the morning here, I´m just starting, and the post is particularly valuable to me).