What a load of shit.

Imageboards are a part of something - the internet, not exactly their own thing. As far as anyone outside of japan is concerned they are just anonymous forums, nothing more. Look at ebaums and MANY such other places - the same crap, just not image board software.
The only people who make a fuss about image boards as something special are losers with nothing else to hold onto. Theres no magic, just a japanese originating software you think makes posting on a forum "special"