This board has magnetraction (wavy metal edges). The wave in the edge gives you 7 points of contact when you turn vs a normal board where you'd get two contact points. I've never ridden a skate banana, but I have heard (and seen) that they are great in the park and on the mountain. For other suggestions (and I'm not just trying to push burton here) the Burton Hero is a great ride. I can't compare it to a banana, but the hero is the sickest board I've ever ridden in 10yrs riding. If you really want the banana then go for it, but make sure you check out every company's rocker boards first. I did my research and went with the hero, but that may be different for you.

The Burton Hero prolly would be more comparable to the boards you mentioned in terms of specialty. But the Hero can't really "handle" the entire mountain too well. I tired it and imo it lacks in this area as do many jib boards. It's not "recessed" though. The Skate Banana is more of a general purpose board...that "can also" be used to jib.

This one will be good for you.

What you may be thinking of is the recessed edges at the tip and tail. Mervin doesn't wrap the metal edges around the tip or tail (past the contact point) to make the board easier to repair, damper and lighter. The center of the board will have larger magnetraction "bumps" to strengthen your turns and give you better edgehold.