Please don’t ruin your car over a $30 part.
The thing is, it’s only a $10 part at walmart.
If you fork out a little extra for a K&N filter then you’ll never need a new one again, and your engine will perform a tiny bit better.
My assumption is that you’re talking about the washable ones. They do last a bit longer and they do save money in the long term because you don’t have to buy as many. But there is still wear and tear happening every time you wash it.
My grubby little raccoon hands have worn out my keyboard caps. I don’t need to see what the letter is, and I’ve had my keyboard for so long it is a razer that isn’t backlit.
Air filter holes are measured in microns. I don’t know the time frame, but it will happen that it will let dirt through the air holes that it really shouldn’t.
K&N is a fairly well quality controlled product. Nothing is forever.
You’ve still got to wash and re-oil it once in a while, which is more trouble than replacing a paper filter.