The collapsing hose is still very viable possibility and one you can fix yourself with a screwdriver and a couple of parts that should be under $100 total.

While your at it, get these and clamp the air filter box down...not necessarily from this vendor just showing you they are available.

http://www.ipdusa.com/products/9845/121196-airbox-cover-retaining-clip-200-700-900

Also, since you should be carrying a known good Air mass meter anyway, pick one up used for $40-50 with at least a 30 day warranty and drive the car with that one installed for a couple of weeks immediately after receipt. In you case I would leave it in and see if you problem re-occurs keep the (potentially) intermittent faulty one as you back-up.

Finally, remove the ignition power stage and renew the thermal paste on the back. Again, it needs to be done about every 5 years of 50K miles anyway and the cost to you is about 20-40 minutes and $3.