Yep, I'm aware of all that. That's why I was curious to see what the Purolator filters looked like, knowing that Purolator makes the MC offering.
Right now, I've got a stash of Wix, K&N, FRAM, MC, Purolator, SuperTech, and AC Delco oil filters (12 in all) that I've cut open. It's been a VERY educational experience. It is so obvious that there are only a few oil filter manufacturers, yet the changes they make from filter brand to filter brand, regardless of being for the same vehicle application, is maddening. For example - the SuperTech and AC Delco filter for this application are identical, yet the SuperTech doesn't have a PRV / bypass valve. To me, that's nuts, and seems like it could be very bad for the engine.
I've also gotten very curious about manufacturer claims concerning the filtering media. On several of the filters, the media looks and feels identical from the base oil filter to their mid-tier oil filter. Yet they claim the mid-tier is usually some type of "blend" that doubles the mileage it can be used for. I'm sorry, but when the medias are the same color, look & feel the same, I have a hard time believing there is something more to them. Quacks like a duck, walks like a duck.......