I personally don't like being able to freely switch between governments. I feel there should be more serious consquences for switching govenments (civil war perhaps), or perhaps making a set duration that you have to remain in that government.

I like that idea, however, I also think that the 5 or so turns that you are in anarchy between govs might limit most people.

I think that the current punishment is more than sufficient. How long does it take to change government?

The eight turns or so of anarchy that I always seem to get seems a pretty big deterent to switching governments. Any more than that would turn me off from playing the game.

I guess the only thing I see is that Religious Civs don't suffer like that and can change at will.