Seems pretty dead in here

[Keex]

I'll keep it short: you can emulate games from android just fine. If you want to run linux with the emulation station front-end, then look somewhere else.

Succinct and insanely helpful.  Now I know which way to go with my research and eventual setup!

Yes Android is definitely the way to go for anything media. That being watching videos (including streaming using Youtube, Netflix, Kodi) or creating an emulator station (i have used it at least for snes, n64 worked but the emulator was a bit rubbish, you have to test a few i guess ;-)).