re: Sun's Plasma Output at 50-Year Low
"Ulysses data indicate the solar wind's global pressure is the lowest we have seen since the beginning of the space age."
The space age being the self-declared International Geophysical Year (IGY) of 1958. That's 50 years.
When compared to the life of the sun what happens in 50 years is less than the passage of about 1 minute of a man's life.
From a 1 minute viewpoint you will be able to detect certain cycles and patterns in the body and completely miss others.
As for the galactic cosmic rays reaching the inner solar system as a result of the changes - I personally wouldn't place big money on that wager.