A staple cartridge for use with a surgical instrument, wherein said staple cartridge comprises: a proximal end ; a distal end ; a cartridge body , comprising: a central portion; and a deck surface , wherein a height of said deck surface varies laterally with respect to said central portion; an elongate slot extending from said proximal end toward a distal end, wherein said elongate slot defines a longitudinal axis, wherein said deck surface varies laterally with respect to said elongate slot; a row of staple cavities extending alongside said elongate slot, wherein each said staple cavity comprises a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein said distal end of said staple cavity is closer to said elongate slot than said proximal end; staple drivers movably positioned within said row of staple cavities, wherein each said staple driver comprises a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of each said staple driver is aligned with said distal end of said staple cavity, and wherein each said second end of said staple driver is aligned with said proximal end of said staple cavity; and a firing member configured to drive said staple drivers from an unfired position to a fully-fired position during a staple firing stroke, wherein said first ends of said staple drivers extend a first distance above said deck surface when said staple drivers are in said fully-fired position, wherein said second ends of said staple drivers extend a second distance above said deck surface when said staple drivers are in said fully-fired position, and wherein said first distance and said second distance are different. a proximal end ; a distal end ; a cartridge body , comprising: a central portion; and a deck surface , wherein a height of said deck surface varies laterally with respect to said central portion; a central portion; and a deck surface , wherein a height of said deck surface varies laterally with respect to said central portion; an elongate slot extending from said proximal end toward a distal end, wherein said elongate slot defines a longitudinal axis, wherein said deck surface varies laterally with respect to said elongate slot; a row of staple cavities extending alongside said elongate slot, wherein each said staple cavity comprises a proximal end and a distal end, and wherein said distal end of said staple cavity is closer to said elongate slot than said proximal end; staple drivers movably positioned within said row of staple cavities, wherein each said staple driver comprises a first end and a second end, wherein said first end of each said staple driver is aligned with said distal end of said staple cavity, and wherein each said second end of said staple driver is aligned with said proximal end of said staple cavity; and a firing member configured to drive said staple drivers from an unfired position to a fully-fired position during a staple firing stroke, wherein said first ends of said staple drivers extend a first distance above said deck surface when said staple drivers are in said fully-fired position, wherein said second ends of said staple drivers extend a second distance above said deck surface when said staple drivers are in said fully-fired position, and wherein said first distance and said second distance are different. <EOS>