Well..... Wix makes high quality traditional filters. So their air filters will be paper(or similar) and, really, just a replacement for the OEM.
K&N makes washable filters that depend on oil to catch particulate. Sure, they flow slightly better than traditional filters but your air filter itself shouldn't be a restriction regardless.
IMO the performance from aftermarket intake setups comes from either replacing or bypassing the air ducts in front of the core support. Those are surprisingly restrictive.
If you enjoy doing car maintenance then the K&N filters are fine. You'll save a bit of cash if you hang onto the car for >75k miles. I don't think there's a performance argument either way. Paper filters are fine, just replace them when they get dirty.
Note that K&N filters have to be *washed* then *dried* then *oiled*, so the car will be down for a few hours. It's not a quick process. I keep spare paper filters around so I can keep using the car while the filters dry, if need be.
