MAFs get a bum rap!
1. The typical scenario is lousy idling, stalling, no pwer at low revs, Check engine light on, etc. etc.
2. Changed or cleaned (possibly damaged) MAF: problem no better, or problem disappeared and returned shortly thereafter.

Bad MAF? Nope!
It was more likely an inlet air leak downstream of the MAF, or poor connection at the MAF and/or IAT connector.
Disturbing the peace during troubleshooting is what really "fixed" the problem (for a while at least), and changing a perfectly good MAF for another Perfectly good MAF just rearranged the connectors/ inlet plumbing long enough to temporarily suppress the symptoms. I would guess that 3 to 5 MAFs (and O2 sensors) get thrown in the trash for every one that is really shot !
If a car had been reasonably well cared for, and not been badly smashed up, MAFs and O2 sensors shouldn't make the short list of suspects until you've got 100,000 miles
(160,000 Km.) on the vehicle.

P.S. In another life, and for a slightly different application, I designed something like a MAF. It was used on aircraft carrier based F-4M Phantom aircraft. I don't believe any of them ever failed.
Would this be tough enough for the zoom zooms ?

 

Depends. How many pilots did you lose because of a failed MAF. (<<< Bad joke. )