The main feature of RWS is that the number cards of the Minor Arcana received full scenes. In many earlier decks the "five of swords" simply showed five swords. Here every card has a scene with people and action, from which the meaning is easy to read.
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Because of this, the deck became convenient for reading on your own. That is why it is still recommended to beginners, and many modern decks build on its structure and imagery.