User blog comment:Flamesword300/ELEMENTAL ZANPAKUTOU USERS/@comment-44061-20100616195708

Well I think there is confusion here what Arrancar use and what Shinigami use are two different things. A better representation would be Yamamoto and Hitsugaya. Also it is not an affect that takes place at such high frequency but the reason in part for the release is because their reiatsu has similar properties to their elemental type. Obviously melee zanpakuto have more to do with outpouring of concentrated reiatsu. Also the example you use seems to be non-canon as Byakuya never covered himself in the manga all the blast did was cause a shockwave of spiritual power and a explosion of smoke.