Generally speaking it is purely cosmetic and offers no structural support.
However that's only if it's the rim that goes along the outside. Some tanks have a cross brace that is part of this trim. In which case, the trim is doing a job of keeping the front glass from bowing out under load. But this can be replaced with a glass brace or better yet, "Eurobracing" (just reinforcing the outside rim again, but using glass, so there's no centre brace at all to work around).
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-- Tony
My next hobby will be flooding my basement while repeatedly banging my head against a brick wall and tearing up $100 bills. Whee!
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