Try to guess which version I played first?
In all seriousness, considering all software limitations, it is incredible work for the time. Now we are spoilt with documentation on console inner workings, near perfect emulators and debuggers.
This is how I experienced most Japan-only games of the old-school era as well. And I was so happy to find those ROMs, like a dream come true.
The general emulator/modding scene has always been a major edgy-in-a-good-way place to be, IMHO, in the gaming space (especially on PC of course).