I remember hearing the same type of things about the mass market edition of the Wild Unknown before it was released, that it would be true to the artist edition.
And, thought it is true that the mass market edition has made no significant change to the deck, is true to the general atmosphere, has kept all the art intact from the second artist edition, and has kept the same presentation.... there still is a difference in the cardstock quality, and I do not remember hearing beforehand that the cardstock would be cheaper.
The cards are the same size, the cardstock is the same "type" (mat) but the quality is lower and you can really feel it.
Possibly people who only have the mass market deck will never know, but someone who has handled the artist version at some point, will make the difference. That was a disapointment for me.
For the Fountain, I hear that "the quality will be the same" and I really hope that it will turn out to be exactly true, because the quality of the Fountain deck is really something, especially this somptuous cardstock, and it makes for a huge part of the charm of the deck (for me at least).
Can a mass market editor achieve the exact same quality if they are not using the same printing company ?
I hope they can ; Iam only just wondering, and strongly hoping they will be able to match the quality.