Id like to see that filter, but I can see how it would be possible as I will be introducing a simple basket.
To further explain why and how filtration and flow is more effective with surface area vs bulk in a given space is if I were to give you a efficient paper face mask to do manual labor in a sandblasting facility or wood pulp plant and after getting a new mask every day I insisted to save money you stuff your face mask with disposable tissue paper as a liner to make the mask last longer and work more efficiently since more paper equals better filtration, do you think it would really help? No becasue you would be chocking from the lack of flow and the lack of flow means less filtration.
Another example are your lungs which are very thin and very susceptible to collapse from even a pin hole, yet because of these qualities have an enormous amount of surface area to make contact with more air molecules. If genetically we were to thicken the lungs and within the same space easily fit 3X the amount of lung avoili, it would seem you would be able to breath much better, but in fact you would suffocate from the decrease in surface area. next time you throw away a auto, refrigerator, or air purifying filter, call the toll free number and ask why it would not be better to pack all the hollow wasted space inside the filter with more media and they will tell you that without that hollow spacing and large surface area the filter would drastically lose efficiency.
Canister basket filters that are chocked full of media are fun, user-friendly, and cool, but given the amount of volume they occupy they are at best OK at efficiency. No where near as efficient as a high surface area circumference basket or pleated filter, its just plain physics.