Save Cymbidium Root Mass?

[Msdclark]

I was given a large Cymbidium orchid as a gift. I am sure it was from the grocery store floral section. Although I nearly killed it, I repotted it in 2-part net plastic pots and used only bark and sphagnum around the original root/dirt system. Even though the original pseudobulb seemed to die off, I did get a new pseudobulb. I decided today that the dead, brown pseudobulbs were never going to come back to life so I should divide and repot.

Since I didn't touch the root system before, I am finding it is completely rootbound. I read the instructions for cutting and removing dead roots. I have the newer green pseudobulb that I am planting by itself and two little brown pseudobulbs that have some halfway healthy roots that I'm going to pot separately and see how they do.

The original pseudobulb does have one green fleshy root and tons of hollow roots. When I pull at the hollow black/brown roots, it is like a skin comes off and there is a skinny little vein root that is alive in there. I haven't seen one photo of this on the web, so I am not sure if this pseudobulb has a chance or not.

What are these skinny roots that are inside all of the black/brown hollow roots?