[mark1305]

I'll be a contrarian and vote for keeping the dents - or bar reliefs if you want it to sound classier. If they need smoothing to be perfect, do that so it looks like higher quality while refinishing.

My personal experience and opinion is that bar-tankinterference is a PITA. You have a case of compromise between form and function that may work to your advantage in real world use.

And has been mentioned, its part of the history of the tank. Although the above paragraph would be my main guiding point if it were me deciding.