I have had many experiences with and without dagger boards. No board style boats are usually much simpler to sail... but are therefore agricualtural compared to a board boat.
A good comprimise is the Spitfire which has "keels" and goes great. If you were thinking of a Getaway.. the Spitfire has all of its advantages like roller furling and no boom) but is a grownups boat.
Boards are something else to think about when leaving and arriving back at shore and need tuning while sailing but are a great asset to the art of sailing.