Alphabet is just mapping of sounds onto symbols... so it doesn't matter actually which one you use as long as everybody sticks to it... since 1000 years Poles use latin alphabet. Anyway, regarding similarities it all depends, for example as I was told by some German friends, they are unable to distinguish between spoken Polish and Russian...On the other hand some Ukrainian guy said that Ukrainian language is much closer to Polish than Russian, as a Pole I have an impression that I can actually hear that.
Maybe as Poles (centuries removed from the Commonwealth) we will never be able to comprehend the ''Empire'' mindset ingrained in Russian culture.
I agree, popular theory that Poles somehow understands better Russian soul is overinflated in my opinion... maybe part of the older generation expatriates from areas close to Russia have/had that ability. But current reality is that Russia is far far away country. Bordering with small Kaliningrad Oblast doesn't change that much (maybe recent border opening and influx of Russian guests into Gdansk will). Moscow is as far from Poland like Paris or even Istanbul, centralization of Russian politics only accelerates this feeling of the distance.
It is hard to argue that it's not for global show, at the expense of their own people. Russia is hosting the Olympics and World Cup in the next decade, while none of us would choose to live there.
Well... speak for yourself :-) I could use a year or two in Moscow or Sankt Petersburg...