After reading some posts of problems with X2 I may wait a while on this --- but anyway my main question is: I currently have Vista (32 bit) and according to MS my computer is able to upgrade to 7. Will this conversion / upgrade screw up my current X1 operation / files, etc. in any way - or the subsequent upgrade to X2?

Do a hard disk drive backup/image.  If things go wrong, then you can restore it.  Off hand, I would say that you should be able to upgrade to Win 7 without any problems.