re:  I had a near disaster with a new Bosch "Premium" oil filter and
the start it up and drive theory...

This problem was caused by 20W-50 oil and not very likely by the brand
of oil filter.  20W-50 is completly wrong for winter (and it says so
in the owner's manual), especially using the "start it up and drive
theory" or even the "start it and rev it past idle while not going
anywhere theory."  The best "year-around" oil is a 5W-50 synthetic.
Oil filter discussion at
http://minimopar.simplenet.com/oilfilterstudy-german.html