servo boards are they all the same?

Can one basically connect and servo board up with the mach2 and not
have a problem talking to the controller or are the allocations for
control different for certain boards? In other words if I use xyz
board and then replace it with an abc board will it still function
the same? This is a question that has been perplexing me constantly
and also the facts of going to servo or Stepper motors.I have so many
conflicting stories on either side that I cant decide to go on the
servo side which seems more powerful and faster and cheaper or going
to the stepper side which seems more logical but not as
efective...Help.....


Keoki