Sorry, but I didn't say 777's, 888's or Rio machines would ever be emulated. I was referring to the machines that have already been done. but then it's not too long ago people would never have dreamed that some of the techs we have now, would be emulated, so you can't say 'never' as there are some VERY clever people out there!
When I said 'classics' I meant they may become 'classic machines', not 'classic' layouts.
Your original post which I quoted, seems to be saying..... why buy an older machine, when you can play online for free..... and the point I'm trying to make is, that if people took the same attitude towards ALL machines, then there would be no need for emulation, and it's THIS that I find a strange thing, to come from a Layout Creator.
When things are 'new' people don't usually think that whatever it is, will probably only have a relatively short shelf life, and so don't bother preserving it. Then years later when someone in their infinite wisdom decides, 'oh it would be a good idea to try to reproduce so and so', they suddenly find that it either no longer exists or that it is extremely scarce, hence the trouble people have nowadays trying to find new things to emulate, or are desperate for this sound rom, or that version of a game. Who would have thought that back in 1970 something, a flyer for a machine would be being looked for and desperately wanted/needed to make a DX? IMHO nobody. So if there weren't people collecting/restoring machines, no matter what their age, there wouldn't be any chance of creating or improving on, new or old emulations today.
Also, I would imagine that Barcrest already have a good enough idea that there are things already in the 'wrong hands' as bpaks and cloning of Rio HDD's have been mentioned hundreds of times on this site alone, not to mention others.