I love my '03 138 but hate the '05, (no offense Steve) it's about personal preference. A lot of "Core" people (you know, the guys that say raleys are gay tricks) seem to knock this board hard and I actually bought what they said about it "bucking like a mule" and being out of control unless you're Parks. I finally demoed one a few years ago and was completely amazed by it. It felt to me like the board did all the work for me. I ride behind my decently weighted SN 2001 and I equated riding the Parks to getting the pop I got behind my friend's SAN. I've been on dozens of boards and hands down I like the Parks by far the best.
As for the complaint that this board is so lousy for beginners. Well maybe some but I have a friend who's been about five times, two times ago was his first time on the Parks and he was eating it hard. Last time he also rode the Parks and went wake to wake for the first time ever and did it three times in a row.
Hooray for the Parks!