Comparing Wheel, Magician, Sun
MAGICIAN
Both decks show the magician as highly focused and in a "magical" position. There the similarity seems to end. As in the Aces, the Waite-Smith Magician is poised but not actually having yet done something. The Fey Magician has just created or acted upon something -- (Waite-Smith = potential, Fey = action started). A creature is within the light-burst, suspended, small and new -- another similar and larger creature looks on.
The Waite-Smith Magician stands among a garden, a flat table before him holding symbols of the suites and his power. This suggests that magic is part of nature, when nature is in bloom or "mature."
The Fey Magician is kneeling on a table or writing desk among his books (of knowledge), filled cup, knife, potted plant and pentacle. A baloon with glowing specks floats nearby. The Fey is inside suggesting that magic may be "built up" from skills, study, awareness and use of the world symbols.
WHEEL
Again, the Fey brings "people" into the symbolism to illustrate the meaning -- the Waite-Smith wheel seems to place an "abstract" or distant form of living creatures into the scene due to the way the figures are portrayed.
As I noted in the other thread, the Fey Wheel shows a path/roadway through a model village being set up by two women -- one older, one younger. The Waite-Smith card shows a wheel of chance, maybe it is turning, maybe not. It suggests that change may come at any time. The Fey Wheel suggests change by both the two women (older, younger) and the apparent movement through the model village by vehicles and creatures.
In both cards there is an indication that the scene of change is being watched from afar. The Waite Smith deck has figures sitting on clouds looking down at the wheel. The Fey card shows the women looking down at the miniature village activities below and between them.
SUN
In both decks the Sun shines down on all below -- the child riding the horse (Waite-Smith) and the Fey in the meadow. Natures background is vital in both pictures. A difference may lie in the very young child riding a horse -- does the Sun's power bestow control over larger things? -- while the Fey soaks up warmth among the fields grass in a passive pose. In this case, the Waite-Smith Sun shows action while the Fey Sun shows repose.
SUMMARY
After decades of using the Waite-Smith deck, the Fey is attractive due to its more realistic coloring and scenes. The Waite remains powerful through its simple colors and depictions. Change is nice.
Dave.