Hey!
Great review, thanks for writing it! I'm sharing it around!
As for Covert Action yeah, it was one of the main inspirations for Daily Chthonicle. I love games that can somehow convince you "you're there and doing the actual thing" :)
Other inspirations were 4th Protocol, The Rats and Arkham Manor (all 8bit games) and 13th Floor. Probably some others too, but these five I had in mind since the beginning.
cheers!