There are critics everywhere and on the internet, people sure like to pile on.
Fram filters.
Graveyard Cars.
Magnum Force suspension.
KYB shocks.
Harbor Freight tools.
Uncle Tony's Garage.
Pennzoil oil.
I've seen the videos posted where oil filters are cut apart and inspected. I've also ran FRAM and other brands and never had a problem.
I ran an '84 Chevy truck over 440,000 miles using almost exclusively FRAM filters. I've used them on some of my cars too.
Years ago when I heard the FRAM critics and their warnings, I switched to WIX or NAPA Gold filters or Mopar branded filters just to play it safe. I still have had zero problems. In the past though, I've used the Fram HP-1, the PH8A, the 43 and maybe the 16?
I've had cams go flat, lifters go bad but even then, I've never had a crank bearing show evidence of contamination. Think about that....if the filters are not filtering, wouldn't the shavings from the cam and lifters embed the crud into the bearings? I've had the engine in and out of the car a few times in the 24 years I've owned the car and the crank and cam bearings always look great. I replaced them anyway but I didn't have to. They still looked great and were within spec on oil clearance.
Do what you want but it seems to me that some internet chatter is just repeated by those that never had any direct experience with what is being bad mouthed. This may fit that description.
Sure, going with a higher priced filter may be cheap insurance so I can see the appeal of doing that, but.....
I don't believe all of the doomsayers.