I especially loved how it was actually a direct prequel to particularly X-2: X-Men United, which I haven't heard that many people address.

You are so right! I sort of realized it this weekend when FX was showing X2. It addressed a lot of the questions brought on by that movie.

And Taylor. You are Gambit now. which means he exists in the real world and I now want to have his really human babies instead of just little pencil and inked ones! xP
Hehehe, this is so true.