Originally posted by Da Pittman
I didn’t say that it went away for him, for this version of the Hulk what you describe would be an “upgrade” then previous version because the ability to tap into each other effectively increases the rate and level at how strong he gets. While the other version may have been able to do this on a lesser level doesn’t mean that it is not an improvement. This level is not the normal level for him in this current version, in effect it is like he is charging up for the battle to come such as Havok being dipped in a star. This was always there but needed something to “amp” him up and in this case it is anger and the “tapping” into thing that you described.
there's a difference that's quite crucial, between your "sun-dipped" scenario and Hulk's increased base-levels. it's that those are external forces feeding energy into the being, empowering him to new levels. like Surfer taking in cosmic energy in preparation for some monumental feat.
Hulk is not taking in any external energy, merely opening up the tap a little on his own energies. he is the source.
the thing about his mental disposition is that it applies to all characters, more or less, in that they fight harder when they're angry/vengeful, than when they're just not interested. WWH is just that, a cold anger. it just means that he doesn't bottle up the energies quite so much, that he does let it out more... but it's not like he wouldn't anyway, once in a fight... which is the key difference between that and the example you gave.