I don't know why people pretend graphics don't matter and they don't care. So much of what makes a skate company great is their aesthetic.
I'd probably do something else if I looked over at my board and saw a Rick and Morty graphic but I'd be hyped to skate if it had a sick graphic from a company like Transportation Unit, Polar, Quasi, etc.
I also know what it's like to need to save some money. I'd rather skate a quality blank than some wack shit but the main thing is just to go skate no matter what you're sliding on.