Yeah, Stoeinpoes, that's just how the tread pattern is designed. It's pretty thick. The forefoot area has that balding look for whatever reason, but it's still grippy.
I have no personal interest in hyping NB# for any reason, I'm stoked on the shoes. And even if they do look like Janoski's, the fit couldn't be any more different. When I swung through the shop last night I tried on the Janoski's - as a result of this thread - and they are bulky and clunky, where the Brighton Mids fit REALLY snug to your foot with literally zero dead space in the shoe.
To each their own.