Great article! Thanks for sharing it, I'll have to go get some flaxseed oil now. I like that the author ran into the exact same thing I did (and the reason I started this thread): EVERYone seemed to say something different, and everyone was certain their way was the only way.

Doug, have you tried Barkeeper's Friend? Can you get that where you are? That's been my savior when it comes to stainless steel, though I'm not sure it's a match for your extreme case. But I'm kind of thinking along the same lines as Dan: I'm wondering what harm it actually did.