[Dev] [GNU-linux-libre] MAME

[Josh Branning]

Upsides:
* Emulators allow otherwise partially-free programs to run freely on a 
machine.
* Where all the programs for the platform are non-free, emulators can be 
viewed as a kind of development kit for the platform architecture, 
allowing new free software to be created for that machine.
* Where all the programs for the platform are non-free, emulators still 
allow for reverse engineering of non-free programs.
* Where all the programs are non-free, people may be able to run the 
proprietary program in a freer manner than they could do otherwise, 
which still may be a small step to complete freedom.

Downside:
* People may use the emulator to run non-free programs.


The downside is slightly questionable, as the whole of the internet/web 
may allow people to download and run non-free programs. As with the www, 
I can have full confidence that the parabola team are wise enough to 
figure out whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages in these 
instances.