Originally Posted by
FBinNY
The Shimano ring seems fine. The worn/damaged areas you show, aren't badly worn at all. What you're looking at is the sculpting that was original to the new ring to improve shifting.
We really need a sticky in this forum with the title of "Are my chainrings or cogs worn or are they supposed to be this way?" and show pictures of what perfectly fine chainrings look like and how the lower teeth with the odd looking sculpting is intended by design for index shifting smoothness.