Sounds like you just needed to cook some greasy food in it a few times instead of babying it. Maybe it's just me but half the "flaking" people worry about is from scrubbing too hard with soap.

Remember the old trick of stirring the flour with a fork before scooping, or is that too much fuss now?

Man that closet thing is rough but I gotta say keeping a film changing bag zipped with a roll half in it is asking for trouble. I always finish the roll or pop it out completely before it goes anywhere near that bag. Half loaded stuff is how you get light leaks and scratches.