Same here... I think it also allows them to concentrate more on the characters, which is the strength of both movies.
Classic nerd- fest!
I had a couple of those moments in X2... one was when Mystique is scrolling through the computer files, and every name displayed is the "civilian" name of a mutant that has appeared in the comics; the other was when I realized what they were doing with Jean. When she snuck out of the plane and started doing her thing, I was nearly in fanboy heaven.
Tell me about it! When I saw the name "Remy LeBeau" right above "Erik Lensherr", I turned to Jess and said..."How much do you want to bet that Gambit will be in X-3?" Of course, she just looked at me like I had two heads, smiled, and said "Yes honey". lol
Did you also notice that on Stryker's computer, he had a desktop folder labeled "Muir Island"? Perhaps that's a little "easter egg" regarding the plotline for X-3?