Here's what I think of Arcsys implementing IKs in the 3rd loke test.

The IKs were unique to GG when it first started out in GG1 back in 98 and became one of their attraction aspects. It's even listed as 1 of the features in game descriptions everytime. I was also intrigued by it when I first started playing. They are also going to do the same role at the December loke test, reel in more players. Unlike BB's Astral Heat, there are no requirements to execute IKs.

Sure, they are not as practical as AHs but they are flashy as f**k.

No, they are actually usable in actual gameplay. Does BB has a stunned status? I'm not talking about the stun when your guard gauge gets crushed. That is a few frames long and every hit becomes a counter hit. GG's guard gauge also works the same way but without that few frames long stun. They have a stand alone stunned status that can last up to 5 seconds long if you don't attempt to recover. It's not stagger, that's triggered by certain single moves. Like HOS' 6P and Johnny's jackhound.
GG's stunned status will look like the character is dizzy from the beating they gotten, complete with things going round their heads. It's triggered at random when the character receives a certain amount of damage. You have enough time to perform IK at this point, no requirements needed.

That screenshot on the Xrd site is a measure of what can be expected. I'm really impressed by the Unreal engine. I won't be surprised if the Xrd team did not realize what it was capable of. I dunno if Xrd is the first arcade game that runs on Unreal coz if it is, I'm in awe at how powerful it is. Powerful enough to push the arcade cabinets to its limits, based on what happened at the previous loke test.

I can still cry at how beautiful Xrd would be when completed next year.  LET ME PLAY IT WHEN I GO TOKYO IN MAY.