The X1 is an entry level BMW. So buyers of it will not give a rats @$$ that it is FWD based. FWD has been the dominant drivetrain for years now and I would guess that over of 90% of the non-pickup truck driving population of the US have never driven a RWD car. So this really does nothing to impact its popularity.
Bottom line is that this car isn't meant for all of you who have owned BMWs in the past. It's meant to pull new people into buying a BMW and they don't care in the slightest about it being FWD based!
But I still MUCH prefer my E84
