the long power down period means you need to be committed to tying up your funds for at least 13 weeks, which some feel protects the blockchain from bad actors

I think we have enough bad actors also with the 13 weeks period.
x x x
In some countries, the state made laws to protect employees, making it difficult or costly to fire them. So companies don't want to hire people because they don't want to have problems if they have to fire them. Result: Unemployment surges.

In other countries, it is easy to fire employees, so companies are also more willing to hire. In worst case they can send them away later. Result: Unemployment decreases.