OK, I'm trying to sleuth out fuel delivery problems before I spring for a
new pump to replace the buzzing old one. The big question is that of
rust/crud in the tank.

I just cut apart the old "white box" filter I took out and am wondering how
much rust etc. to expect if doing tank work is required. After around 14K
miles mine was discolored (deep brown) but there were no flakes or particles
I could see.

If there's a problem with rust or whatever in the tank/fuel supply lines,
would you see bigger stuff in the filter? How much is normal for 14K miles?
Is that pump-destroyin' rust microscopic or visible or what?

I don't want to pull the tank off, etc., if I don't have to.