Singer's got it right - tying into the original films, bridging the decades and getting us up to speed.
I hope he's right. Personally this remains the one big sticking point for me; I'd have preferred a fresh vision. All due respect to Donner and Reeve, who are/were great guys, I'm not in the camp who believes Superman:The Movie and Superman 2 were the "definitive" take on the Man of Steel.
I think too much is being read into this. I don't see it as being tied to the original films at all. I see it as a nod to the originals but keeping with it's own story. To me it's just a bit of nostalgia thrown in.