No, they aren't but they can work similar. A link wheel is a bunch of sites where site A links to site B, which links to site C etc. and goes back to site A (that would be a closed linkwheel). A link pyramid is literally a pyramid: at the top is your money site, below it are high quality links (1st tier), below that are several more medium quality links (all pointing to the first tier) etc.

Not necesarrily.
What matters are the sites in the link wheel/pyramid.
I guess quantity might also have something to do with it.

Link pyramid is the disgusting method for link building. I think it needed some correction.

Would you say link wheels and pyramids are better than just linking everything to your money site? i am curious if anyone has seen tangible results of one over another.

I have never heard the term of link pyramid, but in my work, I have put this way to practice unconsciously and the result is good.