{geek] Sorry TG, the message doesn't become the distress signal picked up in Alien. Prometheus lands on LV223, Acheron is LV428[/geek]
I didn't think the film was that bad. certainly better than the AVP prequel efforts. I think you are right about the sequel(s) though, something tells me this is less a prequel and more a reboot of the whole franchise.
The start of the film does look like it was either their way to seed DNA onto a planet or someone who was already infected committing suicide before it was too late.