Walmart stopped carrying the TG8316, and Napa's 1315 stock is at least two years old, if not older! And when you do, they are much more expensive than the 1516/3600
Pep Boys still has the TG8316's for their same price as the TG3600, but you're right that they're not really necessary. They do make for slightly less messy sideways-mounted filter changes on my Lexus, though.
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(also, DO NOT BUY the clearance M1-21 from Rock Auto--they are from 2008 and NOT safe to use!)
Could be worse!
Most of the TG8316's I got when Walmart cleared them out were from 2012 or later- except
two of them which apparently were on the shelf since 2003(?).
From back when Fram still wrapped their filters in plastic wrap, and still recommended
3000 mile OCIs.
If only I could offload these things on Rockauto.