What are your thoughts on swapping valve adjustment shims between camshaft follower positions?

What prompts this question is my experience rebuilding VW type 1 engines. The accepted wisdom back then was to always reinstall the camshaft followers, which in those engines ride directly on the cam lobes, back in their original positions. The alternative was to install new or reground camshaft followers. The concern was that mismatched wear patterns would result in accelerated wear of the camshaft lobes.

I have observed wear patterns on the shims in my various 240s. Nothing out of the ordinary I’m sure, but they’re there all the same.

I realize the adjustment shims in the 240s could be flipped over, exposing an unworn surface to the camshaft lobe. How important to the longevity of the camshaft is the use of shims with fresh surfaces?

Tatra Mike
Seattle, Washington

1985 244 "Alfsen" (wife's car - the good one)
1984 245 "Buster" (the kid's car, now sold)
1985 245 "Cosmo" (parts car, sold off for move to WA)
1985 245 "Daisy" (back seat down, full of tools, the work truck)
1985 245 "Earl (CA vehicle 'retirement' program)

Can you tell I prefer the 1985 model 240? Better headlights than the plastic 1986+ and nicer belt adjustments than the 1984s and earlier!