AUIU cardboard towels are caused by the fibres binding together as they dry. The tumble drier breaks them up mechanically. As does using them. Line drying might help, if you're not a) in Waleslandshire, or similar, where it always rains or b) within gunking range of a stickamore tree.
Coating them in stinky hydrophobic schmoo, while occasionally necessary, is a poor solution IMHO. But then I have no sensory issues with using exfoliation sheets.