So I've been up and down this thread maybe 10 times now. I think I've discovered that while I absolutely get the appeal that the Xray is not for me. At least not as much as the W3C is WITH the X-Ray front end (if it saves 13oz, that's 3.8lbs for a fixed W3C and I'm ALL over that!).
I think I'd like to make a couple of suggestions however...
1. The Xray front end needs a little more style! The forearm is VERY flat in the preproduction. See marked up pic from a Sako. A hand hold feature seems natural.
http://s14.postimg.org/9r2pq02ld/Capture.png
2. On the W3C and X-ray, it seems like a no brainer to lop out a little material on the correct side for a magazine change without lifting the gun up a lot. Ala AI AX, I mean, no one wants to outright copy, but a good idea is a good idea.
3. The QD only spigot is a good idea, but I'd REALLY like to see a minimalist spigot that had the a QD on each side, and a rail large enough for a QD bipod but nothing more. Most of us don't need NV or lasers, but it would be great to get a lower CG on the bipod without adding a lot of cost or weight. All most of us need is non-modular QD and a small rail for a bipod.
4. I have no need for NV at this time, however, I'd be very interested in an aluminum/polymer/composite AI-style NV mount that had no rail and extended a little further forward a mirage cover. This would require a cut-out in the forearm and at least an aluminum bottom half for under the barrel, but the top could be of any material.
5. The bottom of the W3C/X-Ray being a large flat surface seems good for barricades... As long as the barricade is level. If it's not, seems like you'd be balancing on the tangent of the fillet transition. Perhaps at least somewhere along the bottom if the radius was increased, there would be more contact surface. Or indent a feature so that angles from 22-45º might be able to have two points of contact, this might not work at all.
6. I see a ton of value in the KeyMod system vs proprietary mounts. I see you use the Magpul MOE spacing (great idea), the Keymod is spaced very similarly, so there may a natural evolution there? The bottom of AI's gun makes a lot of sense to me. Plus this gets rid of threaded features
That's it. I think on you're going to kill it with this and a hybrid-w3C/Xray. The price is very good considering a B&C + Bottom Metal. The weight is very good, although I wonder if you can go lower with still with composites like pre-preg carbon? I absolutely love that the accessories are priced for mere mortals, this means to me the product is the focus, not making margin on accessories (cough AI, Sako). And the number of options offered is very attractive.
I'm going to probably end up waiting a few months, but I'm very interested in this direction.