I have installed and changed out many a needle bearing on high Hp cars with 40k-80k HARD miles and the needle bearing looked fine. Now with that said I have also seen both the stock bronze bearing and the needle bearing mangled. It has A LOT to do with how the transmission is installed. Putting the transmission in at an angle or in a bind will damage both the stock pilot bushing and/or the needle bearing.
So if it is installed properly the OP should have nothing to worry about.
Kyle "Grumpy Bear" Puckett Import Parts Pro Phone: 281-288-0700 AIM: KyleatIPP Yahoo: KyleatIPP