Yes, the K&N flows better because it has bigger pores, less filtration.
My point is this is not the only way to flow better. Alternatively, one can increase the filter's effective surface area (more/bigger pleats) while keeping the same filtration efficiency.
I'll add that I believe this is mainly a theoretical concern. Whatever stuff the K&N allows to flow past that the OEM filter would have blocked, does not appear to have any obvious real-world negative impact. Some vehicles come from the factory with K&N filters (or functionally equivalent designs), and many airplanes also use this type of filter. I haven't read about problems with these cars caused by the K&N filters, nor airplanes falling out of the sky or having premature engine replacement because of them. We've all seen the comparisons that show more gunk getting past a K&N filter, but I haven't seen any evidence what real-world effect this may (or may not) have on the engine.
Given this lack of evidence, either approach (using or avoiding K&N filters) is entirely reasonable.