I have a Ultegra double 9 spd with a replacement outer ring that has no pins/ramps. It does shift well enough for me but not as crisply as if the pins/ramps were present. I "grew up" without pins/ramps in the early SIS days and am accustomed to it. I would say it depends on your likes and tolerance. I also have a 9 spd triple on a very old Sakae crankset (no pins/ramps) but use friction shifters with it. In that case, friction is the bomb!