Had the same issue, P0102 code kept coming on even after cleaning the MAF. It came on three times in about a month and a half. Finally decided to change the MAF for a new one. The old one had a P/N 986.606.125.00 so I figured it was pretty old. Might have been the original for all I know. The new one has a .01 suffix.
I've had the car for 2¼ years, a 2000S with 104K on it now. I have put about 6K of miles on it since I got it and about the same ($6K) in repairs. So I'm 3K ahead of you! Similar to you, I got layed off almost a year ago, so now I find the time to do my own repairs if they aren't too demanding.
You can get a new MAF online for about $240-280 depending on model year. You already know how to change it out. The cheapest I've seen it for is $223-234 at ********************************************************************************************. I've purchased from them before and so far no complaints. Got mine from my local P-car/racecar indie shop for the same price and got it in last week, no P0102 code yet. Car accelerates a lot better now, used to have a sagging sensation when you gave it the "passing mode" throttle position. Now that the weather here is starting to warm up, I can test out the "passing mode" more often.
Update: Just saw one on ******************************** for $216.51
http://www.************************************************************/search/product.aspx?sid=mhmrr555uywamv5503ot4c45&partnumber=0280218055