The Cost Of Using The Elements Alone

[AccountNoLongerUsed 741]

What I mean is in all the times we have seen the Elements being used, it was being used by more than one pony (Celestia and Luna, The Mane 6)....except for one time: when Celestia used them to seal Nightmare Moon in the Moon. Using something that usually requires a team effort all by yourself is gotta have some nasty side effects, like, I don't know, making you weaker. This is why Celestia is not as strong as we a lead to believe, because her loss of power is punishment for using the Elements by herself. The punishment could also be mental, making her subconsciously unable to tap into her full power.

[Shiki-pon 6]

Ummm, what full power would this be? I don't recall any particular mention of feats she was capable of in the past but incapable of in the present. I do agree on the punishment part, but I'd say the actual punishment in this case was the elements sealing themselves away instead of doing something specific to hurt or hamper Celestia. I feel that using the elements selfishly (meaning in this case without another, balancing user being there for the harmony part) would cause them to deactivate until such a time as a more worthy user came looking for them. Celestia and Luna being separated for a millennium also serves as a harsh punishment in my opinion.

But still, I'm curious. How is Celestia weaker in the show than what we were led to believe?