You somehow overlooked the most important announcement.
Heh, you got me there. I do have to remark that this 'guile' soldier thingy is only for pre-orderers. If you don't get your copy on release day, you are out of luck. Sure, the bonus will probably be available to buy 6 months - 1 year after release. Beyond the pre-order thingy, we do not know yet if you only get this soldier once (it is confirmed he'll be in your barracks once you start a game) or that his hairstyle will be unlocked for other soldiers as well.
If you need more info regarding the pre-order bonuses and which stores will carry the PC(-only) XCOM Special Edition, you need to read
this and
this thread. And ofcourse watch the picture spoilered below:
If I wasn't sold before, I totally am now. This really is the labor of love they made it out to be.
I notice in the screenshots that researching "Alien Materials" costs five "Weapon Fragments". I'm guessing that you won't be able to run your entire enterprise selling all the wholly intact alien weapons you pick up, after researching the exactly one it requires to reproduce them.
I can't say I'm pleased with making research a bit more "abstract", but I can certainly make an argument in its favor.
Alien Weapons explode on death of the alien. Only by capturing a live alien do you get to keep the weapon in its entirety.