Your opponent will control your creature, but it's still a commander that you own, so your background still applies to that card, even on another side of the table
There are ways to copy legendary creatures or copy triggered abilities, but a cares for creature type x only having one creature in a precon feels off
Its clearly a much-loved card thats been repeated, but rarely bettered, over the years
Ixhel encourages poisoning your opponents somewhat equally, as you want to make sure each of your opponents has at least three poison counters
Ironically, the more creatures are saved with rope counters, the more incentive there is to also pay at least until you hit diminishing returns when youre down to tokens or other inconsequential stuff
Counting every card that mentions the initiative (which includes cards like Imoen, Mystic Tricker and Safana, Calimport Cutthroat, who care about it without giving it), 28 cards use the mechanic : five white, four blue, six black, four red, three green, and three colourless