It would help to know what kind of Paph you have. Do have a name or a picture?
I think we also need some other details about how you have been growing it...
Do you fertilize regularly? What kind? How strong?
Do you water with tap water? rain water? or what?
Have you repotted? What is it potted in? In general Paphs like to be repotted more often than most orchids, but that may depend on what kind of media it is in.
When you say the growth becomes floppy, do you mean that it wilts or that the whole growth flops over? Either way it isn't good for root growth.
It isn't unusual for Paphs to have only a few roots but they should be sturdy and strong. Scraggly and spindly just sounds dead to me.
I'm sure we can help you grow your Paph better and stronger. If you can answer these questions we'll have a better idea where to start.