That would seem correct.  The blockchain has not stalled completely YET, but it is badly stuck.

I think the 500 confirms was to ensure an 8 hour turnover of staked blocks - but maybe the 8 hours (8.333r) is a  consequence of the 500 blocks.  Whatever the reason we are stuck mostway up the up a hill with minimal movement now. 

I am still showing a large chunk (35%) of unstaked coins too - so they are no help.  I was hoping they would come into play as the blocks marched on, but 6 days in they are still in limbo.

As of writing, we are at 3 blocks per hour and falling....  The question is how to get out of this Gordian Knot without restarting the chain again.  The parameters appear to be trying to adjust, but as this only takes place every hour (or is that 60 blocks?)

It is hardly a tidy, self-balancing situation.  The danger is that we are, frankly, wasting  'energy' / money now - running wallets on a stalled blockchain; and people will close down their wallets and everything will really grind to a halt.

T