Thick and loose for sure. And that's why RP costs more. It does it all, including durability and reliability.
As for redesigned Fram, I am intrigued with their "dual layer" synthetic media - if it means what I think it means. it would be a progressively finer mesh for more dirt holding capacity. Obviously the coarser layer is the outer layer. With a dedicated fine inner layer, it could perhaps be stiff enough to serve in place of a metal screen against collapse.
My house water sediment filter is constructed this way, as is the engine air filter on my UTV. So, perhaps it is a cost wash for Fram to eliminate the metal screen and replace with dual media layers, gaining finer filtration and more contaminant capacity.
I wrote back to Fram and basically asked WTF is with their marketing on this, and explained why we thought they went to half paper media.