I hope Pentax is working on something like this because I think it's a legitimate direction. It's interesting enough to me that I've put my name down to get a crack at an X1D at my local dealer as soon as they have them available. I dearly love using my Pentax digital 645 system, and there are very few things about it that really bug me. But there's no getting away from the fact that it's a large, heavy bunch of kit. Something that can maintain the image-making quality from the same sensor platform in a smaller, lighter, more maneuverable package would have a lot of appeal for me.
The X1D looks well-enough spec'ed to me, especially for a "first in category" product. Heck, the 645D was quite primitive in comparison. Sure there will be certain limitations, and the armchair designers of the internet will rage about "why didn't they do this or that", just as happened with the 645D and even the hugely improved 645Z. But if Hasselblad's execution is there, I wouldn't refuse to get one just because it's not a Pentax... I'd be quite tempted, even just sticking within the limitations of the Hasselblad ecosystem. If electronic focal plane shutter could be supported in the body and adapters for alternative glass made it conceivable to use a range of the Pentax glass, then it would be become a virtual no-brainer for me.
I always felt the Pentax digital 645 system -- especially the 645Z -- would have to produce responses from other manufacturers. Just like Canon's original 5D in the 35mm range, Pentax made too compelling a price-performance story for others not to want a piece of that action. Here's the first real response from another manufacturer. Well played, Hasselblad. Now let's get ahold of the camera and see how it really works.
After that, who's next? Fuji is highly likely. Pentax, hopefully. It's going to be interesting...