RetroN 5 is officially a thing, apparently

[Spleeze]

I just don't get why anyone would buy one.

A clone console like this is PERFECT for some people and just because it doesn't appeal to you doesn't mean they shouldn't exist. Here are some reasons people may use a console such as this.....

1. To consolidate wires and gain space. Since this system plays games from multiple systems you would have less wires and AC adapters laying around.

If space is an issue, getting a small PC will save space, as well as offer up netflix/web/etc that these don't do.
Also, you can get away without carts with a PC, and after all, in this case you're looking to save space....

2. Some may want to use a system like this because they collect games and want to play them instead of just stare at them, while emulation is nothing more than files on a PC. Plus you can play this console on your old school TV or big screen TV while using the classic controllers you know and love without hogging the PC that someone else in the house may need to use.

That's the thing, if you really collect old games don't you want to collect the old system too?
If I just want to play the games a small PC + emulation will let you do that on an old TV, new TV or whatever.
And you can purchase classic controllers with USB or make your own.

3. Some people may not like junking up their PC with ROM's and emulators for personal reasons. IE: Their PC doubles as a work computer and they can't load personal stuff onto it, or they prefer to keep their system free of anything other than what needs to be there.

This is a silly reason. You can get a small PC that will emulate everything these consoles do for cheap on ebay and hook it up to your TV in your livingroom full time.

4. Original NES hardware is becoming less and less likely to stand the test of time. I've personally had 2 NES' with a new 72 pin connectors that have both failed, meanwhile my Generation NEX clone console by Play Messiah is still playing my NES games perfectly.

I understand that things will break, but when it comes to collecting I think you'd want to collect the real thing.
When it comes to playing the games, there are other options out there.
Additionally, when your NES' failed I'm sure there was a way to fix them. Maybe it requires soldering and replacing something on the motherboard, but that's part of the fun of keeping your old stuff working. I hope you didn't throw out those NES'.

5. A system like the Retron 5 will offer save states for games that take forever to finish that people don't want to sit there and play a 4 hour game for 4 hours straight. Emulators do this too, but see reasons 2 and 3.

Like you said, emulators do that too.

The reasons go on and on...........

I see a lot of reasons but I don't see good ones. It sounds like you're grabbing for them.
I'm not advocating sitting at your PC/laptop and using a keyboard to play an emulated game.
I think that for the same cost as these clone consoles you can get yourself a nice used PC from ebay that will sit under your TV and let you emulate all that these things do. Saving you space/time/money and giving you things like web/netflix/dvd player that these clones don't even have.

If you want to collect, then collect the real thing. If you want to just play the games, then just play the games.

It doesn't make sense to me to go out and buy some fake clone nonsense, to play real games in.

DISCLAIMER: Sorry for the rant. This is my opinion. Copyright 2013.