I've been using the FL-820 since 2008 and haven't seen one tear yet. Granted I haven't cut open every one of them, but of the ones I have, everything looked good.
So everything is fine, until it isn't.
Will a filter tear cause an engine failure, most likely not, as evidence by the number of torn filters we have seen here, and those being only a small sample, we know there are more unreported, yet we don't see engines failing left and right.
The fact is a filter is designed to, well, filter. If it is compromised, it is not filtering as it should, so not doing it's job.
Any product with a know common failure (regardless of outcome of that failure) is not a product I want.
I was shying away from Puro made products, and then when I had an actual failure on one (Pennzoil PX-37 (made by Purolator)), I decided then to never buy another Puro made filter.
As for alternatives to the 820, I am using the ST2 on my brother in laws F150 (even though I don't care for the combo valve on it), and currently have a M1-210a on my F150 (filter was free after oil/filter combo). I have a few TG2 in the stash for later.
Wix/NAPA Gold is a good go to as well.