HeronIstarion-It seems to me that Saruman for certain loses more than just power in his incarnate form. After Grima kills him, he no longer has the power to retake a form, which he certainly would have had before he was sent as an istar. The change in power to his maia form is perhaps only due to the fact that he was slain while incarnate, but definitely existent. Also, for the istari, there power in the incarnate from is largely representative/proportional to their actual powers, so that if Saruman clearly loses power as an istar, it is possible to infer that his maia from was made less powerful.
As for Gandalf, it is slightly less certain that he actually gained power, but I believe that is actually the case. I posted in the topic "Gandalf and Sauron" in this forum with my explanation on why.
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"He was sent by a mere prudent plan of the angelic Valar or governors; but Authority had taken up this plan and enlarged it, at the moment of its failure."
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