SSpeed, your posts are always well thought out and I enjoy reading them.
Continuing with the theme of the above quote, one has to wonder *what* the reason was. Talking it over with several friends (employed by the big 3) they were in agreement- it's *highly* unlikely a manufacturer would include an additional part unless there were a demonstrated need for it.
Bryan at BNR has discussed the fragility of the VF40 axle/turbine joint (in the big-ass BNR Bolt Up thread)- basically a combination of a spin-welded joint and some type of machined groove too close to that joint. Doesn't sound like good engineering, honestly. Still, IME a properly functioning motor doesn't generate chunks of a size likely to get hung up in journal bearing clearances. Fines, certainly, but no big pieces. My surmise is that Subaru had an issue with swarf, bits left over from the various machining operations that the block has to go through. If that's the case, removal of the banjo bolt filters after 5 or 10k miles should pose no risk. Note that one could argue that the deletion of the filters (after what, '08?) supports this to some extent- quite possibly they improved some pre-assembly cleaning processes and thereby rendered the screens unnecessary.
I pulled mine, needless to say.
$0.03