You have a valid point.

However I wouldn't recommend that anyone continuously remove and inspect their air filter element over and over again to see if it's ruptured or damaged.

Every time a filter is disturbed you wind up with some dirt getting into the intake system.

The Manufacturers all recommend that a filter be left alone until its time for replacement, either when the restriction gauge shows it is necessary, or at a maximum interval of one year.

That's how I've always done it.

 

Yup I've always done it one year. The filter is a pretty decent size, but there's only one of them. It's cheap anyways, like $50.