Ok, two questions:
1. What is the advantage (if any) to a canister design?
2. My paranoia ensues. I replaced the filter on my MSP today with, what I was told was, a 92-95 MX-6/626/Probe GT V6 oil filter. However, on the package it said oil canister. It was a Mazda psrt from a Mazda dealer. It threaded on fine and looked to be exactly the same as the filter it replaced, only longer. But after reading the link on how to replace the canister with a filter I am some what paranoid. The fact that it threaded on and sealed properly makes me think all is ok, but I figured I should ask now that I know there is a difference between a filter and canister in Mazdas terminology.