SAP .NET Connector IDOC receiver/sender

We are currently trying to create a middleware application to link a SAP system to a non-SAP system. We were thinking of using the IDoc Connector for XML in order to send/receive XML formatted IDocs to and from the SAP system. Unfortunately it has come to our attention that you cant use this component without using the SAP DCOM connector (for authentication), which we are trying to avoid as its support is being discontinued. We would like to use the .NET Connector but are wondering if this connector supports XML transport of IDOC's (send/receive)?? If not does it allow for support of the IDoc Connector for XML control... IE will it authenticate for that component? If the .NET connector doesn't support XML transport of IDOC's does anyone know how IDOC's are handled within this environment... do they come out as straight text... that we will parse... or some other object???

Any information you can supply in this area would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for the help

Dave