Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-4957813-20131113141215/@comment-8986886-20131116114641

N-e-ls wrote: On the other hand, the Shinigami will feel the spirit not being present, but otherwise can use their Shikai. (For example, Ichigo didn't have to communicate all the time with the (now Quincy) Zangetsu in order to use his Zanpakutō).

That's comparing apples and oranges. The old man was  always  Ichigo's Quincy powers; he only pretended to be a Zanpakutõ.