I'm new.
Veteran of Star Control 1, 2, 3; MOO 1 and 2; Europa Univesalis; Civilization 1-4, Colonization and SMAC; MoM; HoMM 3 and 4; Dominions I and 2; Age of Wonders 1 and 2; Seven Kingdoms, Conquest of the New World, Settlers, Fantasy General, Stars!, Reach for the Stars, Spaceward Ho!, Ascendancy, Space Empires IV, Kohan, Total Annihilation, Warcraft 1 & 2, Starcraft, and most other well-known related games. But I never played GC1.
Right now I feel like I did when I started Laser Squad Nemesis, expecting it to be like X-COM. Is it better? Worse? Too early to tell... I eventually decided Laser Squad Nemesis was worse than X-COM (though more adrenalin-pumping), while Jagged Alliance 2 was better than X-COM. But when I started playing each (which are practically the only two games in the X-COM genre) the ultimate conclusion was not obvious. In fact, X-COM initially seemed... sort of bad, and in fact, System Shock seemed sort of bad at first, too. But eventually I realized that they are two of the greatest games ever made.
I plan to hold off on any more GC2 for a couple weeks, until most of the niggling issues are resolved. I'll reserve my judgement until then. But so far, my feelings are very positive.