I've used the Fl400s/3600 sized filters on my 1.8/2.2/2.4/4.7 Toyotas for over 20 years. Toyota filter mounts have a broad area for larger/smaller filter sealing gaskets. The 4.7 also has plenty of space for the PH8a sized filters.
I also use the 3600 sized filter on the 1.4T VW that comes with a smaller 3614 sized recommendation, along with metric upgrades to the 6607/7317/9688/3593a/2849a oversized choices in Hyundai/Kia/Nissan/Honda/Mitsu/Subie/Mazda... engines.
The Fl400s and FL1a are a little shorter now than a decade+ ago. You can fit more of them in an 18wheeler to spread out the cost of shipping among more filters, more filters per given storage area,.... along with ease of assembly as larger filters might not provide wiggle room when raising a drivetrain into a vehicle.
One should never think that lesser is better and that the engineers actually picked the filter size.