Same here as is the case w/99% of the 8's through the shop. 1 % were overfilled at oil change joints.

My deal with this is which is better? Is the customized breather mod better or is the Mazda re-route to the lower intake manifold better?

Any thoughts on this?

I never used to have this problem (oil in intake) but just had it for the first time at track day this week . Ambient temp was around 12-15 degC which is colder than previous track days so this could be a factor .
Just ordered my catch can .

Time to revive an old thread. I recently noticed that my catch can was overflowing (has a breather, intake line is capped). This has happened three times at startup on very cold days (in the teens for Fahrenheit, below zero degrees Centigrade). The engine lost 1/3 quart of oil to the catch can each time (I know the engine oil was at the full mark prior to each startup, and I have a Sohn's adapter and an oil tank installed so engine oil is not being used by the oil injection system). Startup was also troublesome, with the engine alternating between 750 and 2000 rpms during warmup. The rpms would start high for warmup, drop to 750, go back to 2000, and repeat the cycle for several minutes. Would this be related to the oil temperature being so low? FYI - engine compression is just above the lower spec for both rotors and all faces, with a low of about 98 PSI, and this engine has nearly 80k miles on it. Altitude where I live is nearly 6,000 feet, and I have installed the Mazmart oil pressure regulator mod.

Excessive blow by = worn out engine. But you knew that already.

Yes, just trying to get as many miles out of the factory reman as possible. The engine was replaced at 95K with two weeks left on the warranty, so I can't complain. Blow by also likely explains the light brown color of the oil in the catch can. The question is now, rebuild, reman or newer model? In any event, I've just got to crack open the engine to see how it looks inside. Perhaps that will help me decide. This car is just too much fun to give up!