You said you've used them for weeks with no problems. I mean, what kind of parts are you storing? I had a batch of old ICs in the new thin bags and they were fine for a week, but a newer board with a big ground plane got fried. Maybe the failure depends on what's inside.

Watched a guy use one on a frozen brake line fitting... it was like magic.

That scratch trick sounds like a quick fix, but it's just covering up the real issue. If a photo looks too clean, the problem is usually boring light or a flat composition, not the gear. Adding flaws on purpose feels fake, like using a filter to make digital photos look like old film. I'd rather learn to see interesting shadows and angles in the city than rely on a broken lens to do the work for me.

Can't believe it lasted ten years without crumbling before.

I feel you on the blank pages. My own journal is basically a museum of my best intentions. What works for you?