If you have a quality PC, I always promote emulation over hardware, just because modern PC hardware can do things like let you play old games at higher resolutions and framerates.

Also, if you want to use those Wavebirds on PC, you can use receiver for them in something like this:

www.amazon.com/dp/B00RSXRLUE

I like hacking the old systems, but I have more fun hacking them than actually continuing to game on them since using my PC and streaming the games to other screens is just more flexible for my needs.