So so many things to reply to here!
First, ROM's are both good and bad at the same time. They are good because they are a good way to play great games that you can't find anywhere (Secret of mana 2, with the english patch on the SNES is one of the best examples). They are also awesome in that for Neo games you can try out so many games to see if it's worth to plunk down the cash to get that game. And yes they attract new people to the platform (That's why I'm here now), not to mention introduce you to a bunch of great games. For me this was Blazing Star, Last Blade series, Metal Slug series (more of a reminder on this one), and Mark of the Wolves (thank god for finding that on EMU). I have ordered all of these games now that I own a MVS setup. So it can attract people, I mean when you look at it we really are a niche market.
HOWEVER, ROMS are very dangerous especially to companies like SNK, where a ROM can actually hurt sales, unlike a SNES, Genesis or Atari. I mean, why buy KOF98 or much more applicable and recent: Mark of the Wolves, when you can just download it? This can actually detract sales from a struggling company, to an already small market. Not to mention no matter what you think Neo ROMS are illegal, the copyright is still there!
*******Anyway, on to a unrelated reply on this thread*******
The PSX isn't the best system that was out there, it just had all the right things going for it. It beat Saturn because it had better 3D performance, and we all know how much the mainstream loves 3D. It beat the N64 because it's a CD format, and developers didn't want the overhead of "expensive" carts (oh god the irony on that one is sad).
And the main reason Sony won out was yes Squaresoft. I know that's why I bought my PSX, and why I own a PS2. Sure there aren't any good games now, but there is going to be Final Fantasy, and god knows what other unbelieveable RPG's they'll put out for it. And yes I'm inviting flames but I agree, Final Fantasy is the definative game "series". (Please don't flame me...
<IMG SRC="smilies/ohno.gif" border="0"> )
Peace
JHendrix
PS. Sorry I know it was long, but I need to rant.