No rant, a solid point well put. If I was living in the homeland I'd be doing emulation exclusively. Just like during the tape trading days, I wasn't buying CDs nor records, not even original tapes, I was basically having music recorded at "El Templo del Metal" Yes piracy but fuck that shit man, paying top dollar for me was out of the question, it was all about recording shit from CD and records with my pals at El Templo and then I would tape trade with friends and record more stuff that way. If I was down there during these times I'd be all about a Pentium 4, 1GB RAM, MAME, Console emulators, a custom built stick (I've been working wood since I was a little kid) old CRT VGA monitor and done deal, the games are there and the fun is there.
I agree with you man, do what you gotta do to play the games and enjoy them. I was able to acquire a Retron 5 off of craigslist today for dirt cheap and use it for the convenience of playing on my LCD, as I am computer retarded and cannot use an emulator to save my life (i've tried, it just doesnt click). If one wants to use Framemeister, HD upscaler, or whatnot, so be it as long as the end result is they play the games and they enjoy it.
When I was in Ecuador, I saw a kid playing one of those NOAC bootleg systems that had damn near every game on it. Sound was off, controls were stiff, but I played a round of Contra with the kid and he had a blast. It's what he had, and he loved every second of it.
I get the whole "if its not original it has no soul" argument, but I don't subscribe. I use everdrives, because fuck buying OG copies of Demon's crest, Little Samson, Earthbound, etc. Gone are the days where we can roll up into a garage sale and get those games from a mom emptying out her kid's games at a dime a dozen, so unless we're rolling in money or damn lucky its the most viable option. Whatever works for you, make it happen and enjoy it.