Use Both
#1 Emunand is not exclusive if you need to load a 3DS rom or App from the red card or use exclusive features like cheat/ram dumping you can and more in the future.

#2 You have a Gateway card so your life will be much easier. Emunand for the time being is limited to 9.5.0-23 but this is a non issue since there are fixes.
http://gbatemp.net/threads/tutorial-how-to-access-nnid-and-eshop-on-9-5-0-23-emunand.407714/
http://gbatemp.net/threads/tutorial-how-to-update-emunand-on-a-n3ds.393701/

 

If you dont use Emunand you risk bricking the best thing you can do is load rxTools or Gateway using HBL.

No you still get the nag in Emunand and let's say you do update your Emunand by accident you can just write a backup you made with Emunand tool.

 

Correct patching is old and no longer needed and both have exclusive features but Gateway is probably capable of doing more in the future.

Trust me unless your strapped for cash and your starving you will regret selling your Gateway card so much.

 

And you'd also recommend RXtools on my N3DS over Pasta?
I saw mention RXtools is no longer supported? And that all source information was given to Pasta? Does that mean the latest Pasta is better than the now dated RXtools?

 

Yea I figured it would be something often posted but it's not a sticky for some reason.
A clear comparison of CFW vs. GW vs. Sky3DS features sticky would make sense to me.

Would have thought there'd be a sticky of this sort of info so that it isn't posted daily by people who don't frequent the forums often.
*shrugs*

Regardless, thank you for your help.

 

I have both. Had the Gateway way before CFW. If I were to choose today, I'd go right to CFW and that's what I use now. I use RxTools on both my old and new 3ds.

See, Gateway has it's perks such as being able to play games without installing them as .cia files. That can be useful, especially if you have a few games/apps that you don't want to take up space on your system. So if you already have the Gateway, don't regret your purchase. But for people who are thinking about buying it in 2016, don't.

 

If you use cia then stick with cfw but I prefer gateway because I am lazy, backuping my saves is way more faster with gateway than with cfw. Also the spoofing method on games is great.

 

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http://gbatemp.net/threads/ctrbootmanager-3ds-boot-manager-loader-homemenuhax.398383/
You can set it to load the Gateway launcher on boot as well or hold a button to delay and select something else.