Guys. Get a grip.
Remember LV. X's? You had to have the card that came before the LV. X before you could play the LV. X. Now you just need two cards. We'll get them the same way we always have - Uxie, Claydol, Bebe's and Luxury Ball for these (it only says no LV. X's). It's too bad about how much it will take to get four of these cards, but it was possible in the ex days, it will be possible now. For all we know, if you buy a box you'll get three or four legend cards, like we get 3 or 4 LV. X cards now. Sure, it would be nice if they kept LV. X's and took the reprints/shinies out, but the game is changing. And this isn't exactly a bad change.
As far as the rest of the set, it looks awesome so far. Without donks, all these cards are playable, though Meganium and Gyarados aren't exactly awesome. It's possible Typhlosion could bring some slower decks like Plox back because it can attach to the active as well. Feraligatr is just awesome and it's not like Ho-oh is bad. Also note that we have a lot more of the set to see, including (5 I think) great Pokemon.
As far as collecting, which I'm not very enthusiastic about anymore, you've got these "half cards", great Pokemon and awesome artwork on pretty much everything.
The whole Great Pokemon theory doesn't make sense to me. If they have some special rule for them, they would have put it on the card.
Lastly, take a look at the three great Pokemon and Gyarados. Even though they clearly have room for a Pokedex entry, they didn't put them on those Pokemon.