Good point. And the longer you keep a K&N in ,the more dirt it accumulates and in theory the more efficient it becomes.
But data doesn't lie.
http://www.nicoclub.com/archives/kn-vs-oem-filter.html
To obtain flow , one must give up efficiency.
And for the majority of the population that drives...
Sacrificing filtration efficiency for air flow is ok on a race car.
But I don't see the benefit on a daily driver.
No K&N air filters in my cars anymore.
Besides, the biggest obstruction in the intake system is the throttle plate.