Interestingly, while reading my new Bentley manual this morning over coffee, it has a statement in there backing up what my service rep said. Even Bentley claims that the fuel filter only needs to be changed if there's a legit problem, otherwise it's a lifetime filter.

But I'm going to replace it anyways. I don't want to lose a fuel pump like ImTheDevil because of a $20 filter.

 

In the case of a stock powered car, then the filter, i suppose, can be left in for the life of the car because the fuel demand is rather low. Still I would not recommend it at all.
BMW recommends oil change intervals of 15,000 miles, and they wonder why they just had to replace my 325's head on their dime