The cork helps out in a lot of ways--it makes a non-slip surface like you said, stops dents and nicks on the soft wood, and reduces the loud echo when setting something on top.  Plus, we don't need to use a coasters for our drinks either.

 The project plans said to stain and seal the cork, but I didn't see any stain colors that I really liked and didn't want to make the top color any darker than it had to be, so I left it natural.