Just to second what gowan said, patterns in the wood grain are definitely regarded as undesirable in boards that are used for professional play, because of their potential to distract.
That's why, in Korea, Agathis table boards where the playing surface is painted a sort of mustard yellow colour are the standard for professional games (also because the wood doesn't dent as easily). I imagine it also provides more consistency with regards to the setup of TV studio lighting, cameras etc.
While that may seem asinine to some, you have to remember that modern professional go is in many ways another competitive sport now. Think about how much we standardise things for other sports. When money is on the line you want to remove certain factors that could lead to a dispute where you can.
Anyway, if you're buying a board for personal enjoyment you don't need to worry about such things and the aesthetic elements are more important. So you can get one with interesting or beautiful wood grain if you want, you can search out one with a unique history (tchan, the Satsugen board looks fantastic!) or you can get one that's just like the ones pros use. Whatever makes you happy and doesn't break the bank
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