Does anyone else find it odd that Ellusionist would release the same deck that was released not too long ago by Seasons with just a few minor changes? It just doesn't seem like them. The pic of the seasons decks that was posted in the email is the same Seasons decks that we all have. Maybe E is releasing the next deck in the seasons series (a new design)
Not at all, especially after speaking with Alex Chin the night the Seasons deck went up for sale.
It's not that huge a mystery. Ellusionist WANTED to do the Seasons deck all along but Alex was committed to doing it with another partner. I'm assuming that relationship has been dissolved now, allowing Alex to work with Ellusionist.
Because of the issues that arose with that release and the fact that his cards, while gorgeous, weren't "perfect", he stated practically the same day Seasons was for sale that he'd be making a new print run of them, but with simpler features (largely concerning the tuck box) to cut costs. Now all that was said BEFORE his new business relationship with Ellusionist, so it's very possible that E will do the "stripped down" run, or something even better - but this will be, in all likelihood, the second print run that Alex was referring to.