you are right i do consider Firaxis's a game to be taken in consideration when creating this game, but there are things that should be kept in mind, for further development if possible: more modding capabilities to this one; more default items (weapons for instance); simple is better (i do consider this since not all the PCs will be able to run their game); this should be not a clone of the first XCOM but an improvement in everything UI, gameplay, story....feeling.
ps. i do not like the path Firaxis has taken with the other "love of my life" game - Civilization, the 5th game is unplayable by my standards - and i am afraid that the new game that GameInformer is presenting will blow in their face....