zodiac charging for roms (essentially) - I can understand that.
that's one of the major differences between gp32 and zodiac - low profile vs. high profile. Only a few people on the periphery of the mainstream have any idea about the GP32 or what it does, and the fact that it's "true" purpose is to be an emu box, essentially (yes, and homebrew of course -- but let's be honest..) The Zodiac, well they are advertising hardcore (relative to the GP32, anyway) with billboard signs and mentions in lots of PDA mags + websites and etc - and though the system certainly has great potential to be an uber-kickass emu box, they can't really portray it as such as that's still a very grey area.
the case is different than when you say "oh but then all PC's or PDA's are illegal if they can run emulators --" well that's not the point. PC's and PDA's can run emulators of the (questionable) roms for various systems but certainly no one is buying them just for that purpose (well, next to no one). Whereas a system like GP32 or Zodiac, it's pretty evident that it's primarily a game system - I guess the Zodiac can claim to be a PDA as well, but it sure LOOKS like a game system! Anyway if they don't want to get off on the wrong foot in their battle against GBA, Tapwave (like Gamepark) can't officially condone the use of "questionable emulators" - and leave it 100% up to the homebrew/developer scene to fend for themselves in that department. Which is pretty much how it's always been in any event, to whichever degree.
what emulators will we see for the Zodiac, then? Beats the crap out of me. The system is so brand new, I don't see how people can be jumping all over it just yet and having serious expectations - the scene needs a good 6 months to a year (at least) to organize and and learn the ins and outs of the system. I know there's apps for it already, but if you want to see some heavy duty business along the lines of SNES and Genesis and the like it's going to be at least a little while, understandably - if at all. I think we can all safely expect some worthwhile emu's to pop up sooner or later though.
I'm real happy with my GP32. It's got most of the bases that I want covered already, and I've already got more than my money's worth of enjoyment from it - the only way I'd trade up for something else would be for the usual (perfect snes, genesis, fairly decent mame/neo geo) and at a price much closer to GP32 than Zodiac - which means I will be waiting awhile, and that's just fine with me.