This is interesting. Yesterday, I ran Windows updates, made sure I was on the latest MSE definition (I am on 1.233.1637.0), and restarted my computer. Then, to test if the problem was fixed I removed the exclusions from MSE. Upon restarting I was not able to log in. I waited ten minutes before rebooting to Safe Mode and then added the exclusions again.
Also, bstephens, I did not intend to imply that your punctuation issue was not important. I was alluding the the idea that the mods were not replying to questions that were more difficult for them to answer.