They're for different purposes. Emulation is great for convenience and accuracy, and gives you practically god-like access to some of the best games to exist.
I prefer original hardware, even on consoles I don't have nostalgia for because there's slightly better accuracy and just... Vibes? There's something about popping in a cartridge and flipping a switch that feels a lot nicer. That being said, it's more expensive. I play on original hardware if I own a game, but I'm not gonna go out of my way to pay 400 dollars for chrono trigger.
My personal favorite method is picking up an Everdrive though, as it lets you play original hardware, but practically any game.