Well, since the time-skip, Gaara's personality and influence on other people, has changed.

From this:

To this:

First off, he's Kazekage for the wind country, he's matured, he actually smile's, and risk's the village's life above his own. Even getting along with his Brother.
His demon is extracted from him, though get's out alive, thank's to the help Chiyo.
Even though his Demon is gone, he can still manipulate sand, which is kind of weird?
Anyways, do you like the new Gaara, I do. :)

~Sensi

I hated the old Garra. Mostly cause he hurt Lee really bad. :D

But the new Garra is awesome, he's not evil but he still has his bad-a** side. :P

I've heard that all sand ninja can, anyways, new times, new change aye?

We don't know if he can manipulate Sand without the Shukaku.

I do like the new Gaara though; he's more interesting.

Both Gaara's were sweet. They both were completly different, but I like that insane power feeling you get. And that powerful feeling you get, yet nicer.

And beat's right, we havent seen him sense he returned to Suna

Actually, we do see him manipulate the sand, when he shakes hand's with Naruto, then telling him that he'll use the sand to guide him back home.

That's right. Forgot 'bout that.

I prefer the bloodthirsty Gaara, I connect more with that version than the mature.

I also wonder if Gaara is still at a Kage level of power with his SHukaku gone.

Gaara can still manipulate sand because he was bonded with Shukaku for so long, so it is part of his nature. But now the sand doesn't move by itself to save him.

His absolute defense is no more, but that doesnt mean that he cant send the sand to save himself just like Shukaku did.

I never said he couldn't send it himself. I just said it didn't send itself.

I think the new Kazekage out fit for Gaara looks Kick-arse.

I never said that it coulnd't either. I was just saying that he was capable of doing it by himself.

The sand, isn't able to protect him anymore, but he can still manipulate it, so he could actually do everything (including the defense move's) that he did before, he just needs to manipulate it. ;)

~Sensi

I don't think he can. At least not for as long a time as before. Didn't the Shukkaku supply with him with an ample supply of chakra. So he may be able to do them, but probably not use them in battle for very long.

I don't think the Shukkaku supplied him with any charka. Really, it's hard to tell. I do think that he can still use incredible Sand attack's and not lose much Charka, since he was so adapted to the Sand and Shukkaku's power.

~Sensi :gaara: