I agree totally with you Lin I do think we are starting to come to an evolving point of the phenomenon, at least from where I sit that seems to be the case. This last year has been weird in there have been a few times i think I may of actually tapped into a persons surface thought, I even had a person accuse me of reading there mind this year. That struck me odd as I didn't think I was and didn't know how i was and I wasn't even trying to.
Also this past thanksgiving visiting a friends for dinner I was the light of the party to all the animals. My friends grandma was amazed at how one of there cats had completely warmed up to me and I had gotten it to jump up on the chair present herself and let me pet it, and was purring away happy as could be. The grandmother excitedly pointed out to everyone at the dinner because it was so odd for that cat to be nice to anyone it was usually the kind of cat that hides all day from people I guess, and I calm replied "yes I have a animal affinity I can look of them and somewhat understand what they are thinking" I've always been good with animals though, just thinking of that and the other odd quirks I've had this year in dealing with people.
Also the 11's seem more frequent lately, could be a phase they do come and go, but I'm running into a lot of them nonstop. Namaste to you Lin.