My personal take on this whole thing is that while I personally prefer Icon out of the two, it's completely a matter of personal opinion, and I can totally see why someone would prefer Wicker Man.
Also, as much as I do rank coasters and I do have a top 10 list, I always try and see coasters for what they are. When viewed solely for what they are, both rides are top notch additions to their respective parks, in my opinion! BPB now has a world class (in my opinion) full circuit launch coaster in Icon and Alton now has a world class (in my opinion) experience coaster for the whole family to enjoy in Wicker Man, as well as a brilliant wooden coaster (my current favourite woodie, in fact!)! Just to clarify, I would still love Wicker Man just as much if it didn't have any theming; it has a brilliant layout, and has excellent pacing, in my opinion!
I personally think that both rides have been large-scale winners for their respective parks, as I have mentioned. Despite my personal preference lying with Icon, I personally like to view both coasters with their positive attributes in mind, as I like to think I do with most rides! I reckon I'd have a much more negative outlook if I compared WM to Icon every time I rode it, if you get what I mean. Everyone's free to do what they want with regards to comparison of these rides, but I personally think it would make me enjoy the hobby a lot less if my first instinct upon entering the brake run was to compare every ride I ride with something else.
For example, my current number 1 roller coaster is Mako at SeaWorld Orlando. I adore just about everything about that ride; the airtime, the speed, the smoothness, the rush you get from it, the pacing, the first drop etc, which is why I personally prefer it to every other roller coaster I've ever ridden, out of the 56 coasters I've currently done. But if I was to come off every ride I ride that I have ranked below Mako with the attitude of "It's not Mako", I would be completely disregarding many outstanding rides like Icon, Nemesis, The Swarm, Montu, SheiKra and The Smiler, amongst multiple others. Each and every coaster has many redeeming features that make it stand out, in my opinion, which is why I personally try and review these rides with the most positive possible outlook. I don't know whether or not I'm successful in doing this, but I personally try and look for the positives in every single ride I ride; even the ones I don't like at all!
Before I go off on a huge tangent, what I'm basically trying to say is that while I personally prefer Icon to Wicker Man, I would be completely disregarding Wicker Man's many positive attributes. Both rides have many positive qualities and are both stunning coasters, in my opinion.
P.S. Sorry for the long post. Also, sorry if this comes across as me being slightly hypocritical, as I do rank coasters. However, what I'm basically trying to say is that while I do rank coasters, it isn't my only consideration when reviewing a ride, if you get what I mean. Also, I apologise if I have offended anyone who does rank coasters; I'm completely fine with people who compare rides all the time, who says what you can and can't do in this hobby?