If I were handed that hardware, the first thing I’d try is…

If what is currently being used is usable, and I don’t want to risk making it unusuable, shrink/resize the active partition with a partitioning tool. Then, assume I’m multibooting and I’d install on the secondary partition:

Raspberry Pi Desktop. I’d choose Pi OS because it is designed for an ultra low power 700MHz ARM11 that comes with the 2012 Pi 1. The drawback is it’s an older Debian install (Bullseye), but still getting long-term support until August. I assume they will release a new Desktop version when that date comes.

RetroPie. I’d grab the RetroPie script for ease of use on installing SNES emulation. It should prompt every emulator choice available for your system, and set up controller support (or keyboard+mouse) and emulationstation so you can browse your legally dumped roms after putting them in the correct directory.

Vizio is likely offering unusually large paperweights without Walmart accounts.

now require a Walmart account for setup and accessing smart TV features

Yup, 60W.

More than enough to power one or two drives but when 3+ were writing I’d have a random disconnect.

Tried different hubs, of increasing power. Same thing.

How do you keep it properly powered? When I tried something similar, some drives would randomly vanish because the peak power demand exceeded the supply of the hub.

Burned optical media shelf life can be as little as 5 years, so I don’t think it should be recommended for long-term storage.