There is certainly a difference, but it is all just personal preference. I think mounting close to or at center makes more of a difference when it comes to riding switch than it does actually doing tricks. It's just that mounting in a new place will take a little bit of time to get used to. Plus, 95% percent of kids on here would never consider getting something non-center mounted just as they wouldn't consider not wearing a tall tee while skiing and not a-banging.