Oil filter magnets, pics

Do you think it's possible that the magnets were holding the debris against the housing of the filter that otherwise would've been trapped by the filter media? And the only reason you can see this debris is because the magnets kept it out of the media?
Yes, pretty much. Is that a bad thing to trap the particles and keep them from plugging up the filter media, or worse some getting past the media and being circulated thru oil pump gears, soft bearings, and needle bearinged hydraulic roller lifters, etc?