I guess it's possible that my overall balances somehow make me a preferred customer but are you trying to say Gox isn't?  So two possibilities exist.  Either they are doing it on purpose and lying about limits that don't exist or their bank really put in those limits because they see their money flows and balance sheet and think they are at risk.  Both scenarios are a bit worrisome.

got it. let me see if i can get a referrer cose

Looks like MtGox has given up the partner track, and is becoming its own bank (more or less).  This information came up in a discussion in French in #mtgox very recently:

My knowledge of French is very limited, and I hope a native speaker can translate.  I have had some help from Google Translate and my wife, and think it means they are registering as a financial entity in Europe (EU), which enables them to handle a large volume of transactions without causing delays.

Regarding partnership with existing banks and payment services, the response was:
My understanding: MtGox's attorneys have advised against this for reasons which he can't talk about.  MtGox has concluded it needs a direct license.  Partnering with a bank doesn't make the activity more legal, and the reasons for this are complicated.

More about becoming their own bank:
My understanding: MtGox is creating its own financial entity in Europe.  It will take 6 months to a year to do it.  He can't give more details at the moment for various reasons.  It is expensive as well.  They couldn't afford it until this year.  (This means MtGox is liquid as well, for those still in doubt.)

He didn't say how long he has been on this track.  I don't know if he means 6 months to a year from now or from sometime earlier this year.

No, that means the marks have stopped believing the previous line of bullshit. So now they've come up with a new, fancier line of bullshit to try to buy more time.

This is a huge red flag (as if being in default for 90 days wasn't enough.) "It will take 6 months to a year to do it.  He can't give more details at the moment for various reasons." This is basic con man talk. It works on a surprising number of suckers. It's amusing to watch the marks on here make excuses for the mistakes of the con artist.

Ignore the bullshit and hammer on them, using every approach I've outlined and anything else you can think up, until you get paid.

No they didn't.  The blame rests with the company.  They are responsible for their actions.

Getting a banking license is not a trivial task (read: hellishly difficult). Typically depending upon the type of banking services the applicant is seeking to offer (Retail, Custodial, Investment etc) supplemental conditions also apply. It would be pretty close to a Loaves & Fishes event if they (Mt Gox) managed to get one - in Europe - within 2 years let alone 6-12 months.

Nah.  Doesn't take 2 years.  New banks and financial institutions pop up all the time.  I even found an easily verifiable example.    Company formed  2007-06-05, registered 2007-07-17, got their full banking licence 2007-11-16.  5 months.

Translation: MTGOX is yet again trying to string along users/customers.

6 months to a year? lol That is laughable. By that time people will have lost their patience.

The 5% option is a MTGOX's way of putting their liabilities/responsibilities back on their customers by taking a huge haircut from customer funds to subsidize the BS that is partially GOX's fault.