Is Following 10,000-Mile Oil Changes Too Long for a Daily Highway Driver?

[Savannah78]

I drive a five-year-old sedan for a long daily commute, mostly highway miles, and I've always followed the manufacturer's recommended oil change intervals of every 10,000 miles with full synthetic. Recently, a mechanic friend told me that's too long and I should be changing it every 5,000 to 7,000 miles to prevent engine wear, especially with my high mileage. I'm confused by the conflicting advice and don't want to waste money or harm my engine; for those who are meticulous about maintenance, what factors do you actually use to determine your ideal oil change intervals? Do you rely on the car's oil life monitor, get used oil analysis done, or just stick to a conservative mileage schedule regardless of the oil type or your driving conditions?