Agreed, Goalsystem is a very flexible core mechanic. The powers/abilities are what makes it specific to any given genre. In effect whatever background you play the mechanic of an ability is the same, it is the description and textural aspect that changes
It is very similar in that respect to the "Savage Worlds" core mechanic.
The more work the GM is willing to put in to create the feel and background the better the game works.
I started listening to the podcast section but had to give up.......the guy who insisted on starting every sentence with "So" really got on my nerves, I hate that increasingly common habit.