There is Socketpunch you know, this program eliminates the necessity for double space, and all you need is a moderately fast Internet in order to do that (Since Socketpunch is a program that allows you to install cias from the Internet).
There is Citra, but is barebones at the time being, but as any emulator, it will take quite some years until it's optimized at 100% without glitches, bugs or frame droppings, hell, if the PS2 emulator and Dolphin present some problems with certain games, of course 3DS will have this, it's more possible to have a CFW for 9.3 and up rather than an stable emulator, since an stable emulator takes quite more time than developing a CFW.
And yes, all that you asked is related to piracy, like it or not.