Ever since you posted this discussion, I've been trying to figure out exactly how I read the pips.
I'd like to share a few things I've observed, as much for the sake of clearing them up in my head as for their possible usefulness to anyone.
Watching my readings, I've noticed that I combine the pips-as-trumps method with some visual cues, and both movement and mood play a big role in those. Colors do too, but they're often not as pronounced/different as in modern decks, that's why I don't specifically watch for them.
Overall, TdM pips are definitely neither static nor expressionless to me, and I often find that details in cards remind me of real-life objects and situations that illustrate, clarify and deepen the otherwise seemingly 'dry' pips-as-trumps constructions. In addition, it's very important for me to see the other cards in the spread, so I usually draw a minimum of 3 cards or even 2-3 cards per position of a spread.
I took 3 of Swords as an example and tried to document my thinking as concisely as I could.
The card shows a single Sword (usually different in color and shape from the other two) piercing through the other Swords. The two Swords crossing each other twice actually look like an egg or a shell to me, and the third Sword is definitely moving to break it.
In a reading, this could be seen as either constructive (the third Sword is freeing itself from the limiting knot-work of the two Swords, not unlike a chick hatching from an egg or Alexander cutting the Gordian Knot) or destructive (the third Sword disrupts the agreement and balance of the other two Swords). The latter meaning also echoes the 'threesome/love triangle' interpretation that is commonly associated with 3s.
The crossed laurel branches behind the single Sword emphasize the feeling of growth, creativity, and victory about this card, which also ties it with the Empress. (Note that I say 'feeling' here because the laurel branches do invoke a feeling first, not a thought like 'well, here's a laurel branch - what is it traditionally a symbol of?'
). However, this victory could also be devastating for either side (since victory implies losers), especially in the case of the destructive/betrayal/cheating scenario.
Note how, without any other cards, it's difficult to say whether this card is 'good' or 'bad': it shows a general 'principle' which will be made more concrete with a concrete question in mind and other cards in the spread. However, the energy of Swords is usually sharp and aggressive, so whichever it is, it won't be easy or comforting.
Hope this little example is helpful. It certainly was fun to write, anyhow.