However, If this approach has more drabacks than benefits, I'll just revert to using a sql table to manage on-disk files.

This is exactly what I would suggest. Take it from my personal experience with this one. I once tried setting up a database table with all my graphics for my website stored as BLOBs. Loading the pages became very inefficient while waiting for the bits to be dragged into memory and then spit out.

Using the database as an index to on disk files is a much better way to go IMHO.