In a strange series of events InXile put their design up to the will of the community. A choice between real time or turn based combat was at stake and while the votes were close a turn based combat system was voted into place. From the sound of the announcement InXile really wanted to go with a turn based system but was unsure of how the community might react.
You’ve got to give them credit for involving the community that paid up front for the game. At the same time though this is the sort of decision that really should be internal and from a look at the Kickstarter comments really only succeeded in pissing off half their customers. Regardless of which side of the fence you sit on the announcement makes it pretty clear that a turn based system is the way to go.