looks like MacBook Pro 16" 2023 model also has the crooked spacebar !!!

I also don't really see a problem either. I do see the difference in lighting on either side, so the dark center area may be creating an optical illusion. It tends to be harder to notice subtle issues in a picture. Plus the spacebar is a very long key so it is more likely to twist/deform or to reveal an imperfection compared to all the smaller keys.

If you are concerned, then see what Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider has to say after they examine the laptop. More than likely they won't do anything if it is just a cosmetic issue or subtle imperfection which does not impact the use of the laptop.

Just to caution you since this appears to just be a cosmetic, personal preference issue....if it would be repaired....the repair may introduce some other new issue which may not be detected for a while, just something to consider. I just had to repair a laptop which had recently been repaired by an official Apple mail-in repair depot center....the repair tech had introduced several issues to the laptop which I had to address (stripped screws and several loose cables...one of which affected the lid sleep sensor)....the laptop was less than a year old and only had the single official Apple repair until I looked at it. I was shocked at what I found...not the first time to see such issues either although most times they do a good job. Personally I would recommend ignoring it, but I also understand this can be difficult for some people so don't be afraid to have Apple examine the laptop to see what they think.

A lot of the keyboard backlighting is done with discrete LEDs and little plastic "light pipes". What you are seeing may be the effect of lighting the two ends of the spacebar with two different LEDs.

If this continues to bother you, make an appointment at an Apple-owned store for a FREE evaluation.

Cosmetic?

-- they will tell you its cosmetic.

Functional, like it affects your typing speed?

-- Sure, they will bring it back to original standard condition (provided it was not dropped.).

we can't think of any settings you could change to have any impact on that, so you need to make an Appointment at an Apple-owned store for a free in-person evaluation.

This sort of problem can ONLY be handled after an in-person inspection.

This is your picture modified by superimposing a line extending from its left to right limits. I can perceive no lack of parallelism or crookedness or skew or anything that could possibly be interpreted as defective:

Perception is subjective, therefore your perception is different than mine. Neither one is "correct". They're just different. I cannot tell you what you perceive. Obviously you are of the opinion your spacebar is crooked, so proceed on the basis of your perception.

I believe you may be conflating a change of backlight brightness with some kind of misalignment. For example if you were to examine the F, G, H, J keys the difference in brightness beneath the keys is obvious (at least it is for me). However, the Mac's keyboard backlight is intended to illuminate the key legends which (again, for me) it seems to accomplish evenly across your picture.

Best wishes with however you decide to proceed.

The lighting looks different but nothing looks crooked.

If you don't like it, return it.

Apple does repair by replacement of fairly complex modules. The keyboard/trackpad/battery/top-plate module would be replaced

If found defective in materials or workmanship, your Mac will be repaired or replaced at Apple's discretion.

The parts used may be new or refurbished and tested to Apple standards so that they are equivalent to new in function.

Looks normal to me. Exactly like my 2016 MBP actually.

Bro I'm viewing on a 2020 27" iMac Retina .... I can't look any closer, it's just an image. I can blow it up, but that just pixelates it and distorts what details you think you see. My comment stands.

Never heard of it. Does it adversely affect functionality?