My buddy had the same thing happen at Joshua Tree where his stakes kept popping out of the sand until he ran his guy lines to a couple of big rocks instead. He said it looked dumb but the tent stayed put all night while everyone else was out there re-staking at 2am. The only catch is you need something solid to tie off to, so on open ground with nothing around you're still stuck with stakes.

My uncle spent 15 years refusing to wear a seatbelt because he knew a guy who knew a guy who got trapped by one. Meanwhile my aunt flew through a windshield at 40 and walked away with a scar and a new religion. The loudest guy in the room is usually just the most confident, not the most right.

Sounds like the bristles themselves weren't the problem so much as the brush being worn out, a steel brush in good shape sheds way less and most liner makers actually still say fine for stainless. Glad the poly brush is working for you though, rotary rods make a big difference on soft liners.