Any benefit to changing just the oil filter?

[bairjo]

No this isn't a "what oil filter should I use thread." However, I have seen the links etc, to the various studies regarding oil filter life and performance. With the long life synthetics out there, my question is it worth considering changing just the oil filter half way through the long run between oil changes? Say you go 7000 miles on a synthetic oil change you would change the filter around 3500 miles. I guess my concern that prompted this question is that all oil filters reach their point of saturation at some point, or may start not perform as well. Yes the oil may be performing but the grime may be working against it.