Corrosion damage on steerer tube

I was stripping down my headset last night (09 fuji Track... steel forks/steerer Cane Creek S3 headset) which revealed a lot of rusted up gunk. That explained the notchy steering but once I had cleaned the solidified rust/grease combo on the steerer I noticed what looked like erosion almost circumnavigating the tube, right near the bearing race. Depth wise, it's enough to be able to drag a ball point tip over and feel it. It actually looks like it's been acid etched.

Generally speaking, would this be enough to weaken the steerer to failing point? I will get it checked ASAP, but if anyone has experienced this it would be good to know.

I'm quite tempted to go and get some new forks but it seems my options are Columbus Minimals in carbon or Surly Pacer forks for steel - not sure I'd like having the Minimals on a bike that gets locked up everywhere.

I think it's unlikely that there's been enough rust damage in 3 years to cause a real issue, but I guess it's possible. Fancy showing us a picture?

I'll see if I can get a pic up later... had to re-assemble the bike last night so I could ride today... just being extra cautious around potholes etc.

Is it not more likely to be that some of the grit/rust/gunk has been scratching it's way into your steerer?

That's probably not the reason for the notchy steering, since in my experience an interference-fit (pressed on) crown race actually does a pretty good job of protecting the metal it sits on. The Cane Creek headset is not standard is it? So it's more likely that the headset was not installed properly. It's probably just surface rust with some dried up grease. The steerer is the thickest tube on a bike by far, and it's unlikely to have rusted enough to cause concern in just three years.

I have Columbus Minimal on one of the bikes, it's very nice, but I wouldn't use it on a commuter, and I only chose it because it was pretty much the only carbon fork with a 1" steerer. Doesn't the Fuji have 1.125" steerer? No reason why you should limit yourself to Columbus and Surly.

I had a really close look and extra clean up of the steerer and yes, it appears the "corrosion" is not too bad. It seems to be mostly caused by the grease around the tube hardening and I guess starting some kind of reaction with the steel. Steering is fixed too but the lower bearing is less than smooth. But since it's the everyday bike, I can live with it. The headset is not standard, it was actually installed just a year ago to replace the original one that had crumbled. FWIW I'm extremely careful about adjusting and not over tightening the top cap. No new forks for now, might save for some decent road shoes and speedplays for the BMC instead. Also, completely forgot to take pics...