fuel can have lots of debris , and the pump can shed metal and tanks can rust so changing a fuel filter is necessary,
the design of the alky filter is bronze powder filter media similar to that used on home heating oil burner nozzles , home oil nozzles filters can clog with varnish but meth dosn't contain oil so the filter dosn't varnish besides meth is a solvent so it cleans but it cant clean sand or debris .
the filter in the alky kit is also an inverted cone so debris gathers on the outside and dosn't impede flow
if you want to clean it just remove it and blow some water through it backwards and it will dislodge any debris that might have fallen into the reservoir and made it through the pump