So there's now 8,986 miles on the engine (5,542 on this oil).
I pulled the oil filter apart and inspected it. There was a single piece of silicon gasket material and I couldn't find any metal. I used a magnet to see if it would pick anything out of the filter and nada.

I'm sending the oil off the Blackstonelabs because I'm curious.
Oh, and in case you are curious the leak at the rear main seal is gone.