Wood type most definately affects the tone and playability. I first realized this when I got my SG with an Ebony fretboard. Ebony is really dense, and it just seems smoother to the touch...

My Ernie Ball has an unfinished maple neck and fretboard. It's very smooth also, but Ebony seems to be the slickest...The maple is smoother than the Rosewood fretboard that is on my Strat.