Rick ,
I pinned the rings more as preventive maintenance .
I've seen too many 2 stroke rings catch a port and ruin the top ends .
Better safe ...
As for any abnormal wear or any downside , none that I've ever seen .
As far as I know , most , if not all , modern 2 stroke motors use pinned rings .
There is even a patent on a self aligning ring . Below is an illustration of that .
Pete .