Ack don't do that.

FIle storage adds an unecessary layer of complexity onto the content repository.

You can write a more specific custom package in less time than trying to repurpose and retrofit file storage. It already has too many settings to change the behavior. Just write what you need.

"I'll follow your suggestion combined with my aversion to the CR, and write something else."

That, of course, is not what Dave suggested. He suggested you write your own UI on top of the CR.

Alternatively, you could look at extending the file storage package (using "extends" rather than "requires") to do what you want, but I agree with Dave that FS has been pretty much FUBAR'd by undisciplined changes to FS.

Your aversion to the CR is just ... strange.