Transom integrity

[BillTex]

Hi all, my quest continues...have looked at quite a few boats over the last several weeks.
I have noticed on some of these OB powered boats, there is an aluminum cap on the top edge of the transom (sorry didn't get a pic) that is often split, even though the transom itself appears solid.
Is this split aluminum trim piece an indication of more serious issues or is this common?
The aluminum piece does not appear structural at all, and the transom otherwise appear solid (rubber hammer, ice pick, visual inspection).
Thanks, Bill