For me the reason it's difficult to participate in is completely different. I originally signed up with my own OpenId server run on a static IP address from my basement rack. When we switched ISP's, we went with a normal account and moved most of our servers to Linode. I didn't bother moving the OpenID server (I'd forgotten about it) but about 7 months later, I lost the cookie for SO and that ended my ability to log in.

I have to contradict the article's assertion that karma's were dropped by the rebalancing ... I've been amazed at how my better answers have continued to receive up-votes and I think my reputation is about 1000 points higher than it was when I last participated.