I prefer XP over VX due to some of the more extensive testing i've done on VX. I've been around the rpgmaker communities for a long time, and am a member of rpgcrisis and creation asylum, in which creation asylum actually has quite a few scripts and resources to learn off of.
And yah, the BG in the screenshot is a default one really. I am going to be working on the graphics and sprites a bit more in depth when I get the basic systems down. The battle system, I'm thinking, is going to be a first person one probably, but I might add sideview capabilities.