Have to use a needle pilot bearing vs a regular solid pilot bearing?
 

I been looking online for a solid pilot bearing but they all seem to offer the regular pilot bearing with the needle bearings. I can already see the bearings not lasting at long as a regular solid bushing.

Not sure why you think that. A needle bearing works well in that application...as long as it greased and not damaged when the input shaft is inserted

^Agreed. Makes no sense. Anyway, a bronze bushing would need repeated lubrication and still wear quickly in that application. And machining out the end of the e-shaft to make enough room would be silly.
Given the relatively small cost of the stock bearing and seal, a precautionary replacement would be in order if it's never been changed and the transmission is out for some reason anyway. But the stock bearing is durable. IIRC MAZDA's been using it for years... I think it's the same part number as the FD.

I seen many times that the pilot bushing with needle bearings fail. Some maybe could be because of user error. the bronze bushing doesn't have any moving parts and it works well on my z32. I actually choose a bronze over the needle bearing bushing after a few reports that the bushing doesn't last the life of the clutch. There is countless pictures online with pilot bushing (needle bearings) that do not last. Not just on just one kind of vehicle but all across the board. Why replace something that isn't broken you know what I mean?? bronze > Needle bearing bushing. Im sure if this is the OEM bushing then Mazda had a good reason to use the needle bearing type over just bronze. Anyways just wondering if the bronze could be used instead.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...e/DSCN0371.jpg

The only time I've seen an actual failure of the pilot bearing was due to (I STRONGLY suspect) the guy removing/installing the transmission three or four times like a caveman and never taking a minute to add even a little grease. I think the car had over 100k on it too at the time and it started making noise shortly after he finally got the transmission in for the last time.
IIRC, the OEM pilot bearing and seal are < $45. And the last time I installed one it took less than 15 minutes. I have the SST, but a blind bearing puller is usually available at chain parts stores to rent free.
You can find pictures of anything on the net. But in my experience pilot bearings are pretty robust. The one on my car went to 90k and was still fine, but preventatively changed during an engine rebuild. That was 30k ago.