It's sometimes possible to find the console along with all the accessories (Wii Remote included) for not much more than just a single Wii Remote. Considering how many people played Wii Sports and nothing else, you may find a bonus inside
Still, even if you get the whole set, it may be preferable to emulate Wii anyway, as getting it to work on a modern TV also requires either an adaptor specifically for Wii (usually low quality), or composite (muddier)/component (clearer) cable and HDMI adaptor.
I can't vouch for any third-party Wii Remote/Nunchuks as they usually aren't the most accurate or compatible, but you can use a cheap knockoff Sensor Bar without an issue as long as the IR LEDs are bright enough; it's just an array of LEDs anyway.
Lastly, if you do opt to use a Wii, especially if it's an older revision (RVL-CPU-01/10), avoid keeping WiiConnect24 (nowadays as
WiiLink) active in standby as due to fans not spinning, it makes these hotter console revisions actively cook themselves.