As for the filters, that is part of the "normal" variation in the macro analysis. Typically, UOAs don't acknowledge which filter is in use, unless someone directly mentions it.
But I can tell you from other data I have, that filtration selection in "normal" OCI durations has very little effect on the wear. As long as the filter used meets or exceeds the OEM spec, the wear rate isn't nearly as much affected by the filter as it is the tribochemical anti-wear layer.
There is an (in)famous filter study by GM logged in the SAE catalog. If you read the abstract, you would be lead to believe that "better" filters reduce wear. And, in that sole experiement, there was indeed corelation (but not causation). However, to bring to light the filter disparity (differences in performance), GM had to HEAVILY dose the sump with contamination past what any sane person would experience, and they also completely negated the OCIs by not changing oil. That sound "normal" to you? Lastly, near the end of the study, GM acknowledged that normal UOA wear metals would NEVER get this high, and so differentiation between filters would never be realized in the real world. Why? Because three things affect wear:
1) filter
2) OCI
3) Add-pack of the oil
In their expereiment, they had to eliminate the two (OCI and add-pack) to focus on filter efficiency. But that is NOT normal in the real world.
And I would point to my article and the two examples where fitler AND lube were contrasted. In the Vulcan engine example, the syn/premium filter did NOT outperform the dino/normal filter. In my Dmax example, the syn with bypass did not outperform the dino with normal filter. Why? Because the OCIs were normal, and the severity of exposure was not drastic enough to manifest into a tangible wear difference!
Yes- filters are important. No, you typically don't see real world wear differences in "normal" OCIs by using a premium filter.
If you really want to prove it one way or another, you'll have to do 30 micro-analysis UOA samples of a normal fitler, and then 30 more UOA samples of micro-analysis of a premium filter, all while holding all other inputs as steady (lube selection, useage, etc) the same. That takes HUGE amounts of time, money dedication and patience; things the average anal-retentive, A.D.D., impatient BITOG oil changer simply do not possess. And before anyone gets upset over that description, realize that I, too, was once one of the synthetic-frequent-OCI junkies at one time, too. I can poke fun where I once trod.