I've been skating almost 30 years and I have not seen any significant differences between boards outside of shapes (pointy noses, round noses, narrow tails, etc.). Honestly, I don't think most skaters could tell the difference if they were really challenged. Take a bunch of boards from various companies, no graphics, no distinguishing markers like staining or stamps, cut them all the same shape and width, and then have skaters try them out and see if they can name the manufacturer. I have a feeling that a lot of these arguments about whose boards are better will fall apart.