Hey Josh,
Welcome to Lose the Straps!
The fins definitely help you a lot if you ride in very choppy water or small to medium sized surf. However, they are mainly a drag if you are riding in butter to small to medium choppy water. Also once you get used to a board without fins there are no limits as far as riding in bigger chop or waves. It is also really a matter of personal taste. I have tried skimmers with 1, 2 and 4 fins, and I always seem to go back to no fins. Even if I am riding in the surf. I have ridden the Nobile skim board, and it is a very nice product, but I would ride it without fins
If you like a very loose feel, like a skateboard on the water than no fins are the way to go. Fins to add more stability and a locked in kind of ride, which would probably be a lot easier for novice skimmers. At the end of the day try them all and ride what you like. As long as you are riding strapless it's all good!
In the skim board video I posted last month the board I use is completely without fins and I prefer the feel a lot more. Here is a link to it in case you want to check it out:
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=13Let me know if you have other questions.