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Thing that confuses me is that when you let go, you should have the same charge as the generator. No charge difference, no arc. Unless I'm wrong about something, which I probably am (hence my confusion).
The generator is generating a difference. Even if you have the same potential when you're holding it, as soon as you let go, that ends.
Does the human body rapidly discharge into air or something?
Enough for a change in potential to cause arcing, as we can see. I'm sure you could find relevant experimental studies, or even conduct them on yourself with a proper transformer and voltmeter.