Place it horizontally? Would that be a problem? 

No way it's 25 cm if that kind of disk tray is usually ~15 cm-ish basing on the other Xboxes released this generation (that is, about ~ 1.5 cm on each side of the disk itself). It's more like 30 cm.

I just know this wouldn't fit in my entertainment stand. Not with good airflow to the side, anyway. I'd image many will find themselves in the same predicament. While it's not as deep as the Pro, it appears to be wider than it and definitely sits MUCH higher than it.

I don't think space at it's side is going to be a problem when it's placed horizontally, the OG XBO was 33.3cm, compared to this ones height of ~29cm (PS4 Pro is 29.5cm). That dimension isn't the problem, rather it's the height of ~14.7cm-15cm when placed on it's side. Some TV units won't have slots with that height, some will. 

Original Xbox One was 7.9cm tall

This on it's side is ~14.7cm-15cm tall. 

I don't really give a damn about the name. All we're gonna do is call it an Xbox anyway. I'm really excited about what Xbox is gonna bring this upcoming gen. It's a day one purchase for me...as usual. :D

I'm getting a modular vibe

I looove the look of the system. It has officially left the age of the "obvious video game machine" and entered luxurious premium tech look.

The thing is dust likes to cover the top of things, and if the top is just holes for vents, then so much dust is going to get into it.
Plus all those people that complain about cockroachs inside their consoles.... yep.

Theres drawbacks to the design too.

At the end of the day, despite the terrible name and design it's all about the games. I skipped the Xbox one due to the game selection, I hope next gen offers me a 360 tier line up.

PS2 got criticized just as bad if not worse when it was originally revealed.