Another possible reason you can't reconnect with them is their upload slots have been taken up. And perhaps you lost your connection with them because LW sometimes works in tandem in queue with others uploading. ie: for some mins you're uplding from them, then someome else is, then another person, then it might be your turn again. Do you just lose connection or do you go into waiting mode? But if their upld slots are busy then that explains why you can't direct connect any longer.

I've direct connected to someone & their results were 4 stars. 20 mins later I've redirect connected or browsed them & they were only one or 2 stars. That suggests they suddenly became busy & not many slots or bandwidth available. One or the other or both.