There are several alternate markets like SlideMe and AndAppStore that are unrestricted. See, the main Android Market is really just an access and download method to files called APKs (that is, they end in the extension *.apk), which are the installation files for Android. You can obtain APK files for free apps elsewhere, and simply download them to the eDGe and then run them to install an app (This is called "sideloading"). SlideMe and many other "alternate" app stores allow you to download the APKs directly from their website to either you computer or the eDGe and then install them. However, most of these websites have there own "market" apps (which are themselves APKs) that allow you to browse for and download apps in a more direct and convenient fashion, as well as buy pay-apps. Note that a great deal of free apps available in the main Android Market are also available via these alternate markets.

The emulator you have heard about (which is run on a PC) is a somewhat convoluted workaround to accessing apps from the main Android Market. The intent is to access the main Market from within the emulator, back up the APK file for the app, then upload the APK to a website storage like DropBox so that you can then download it onto the eDGe. This only works with free apps that are not copy-protected, but in a few cases it is the only way to get them onto the eDGe. However, myself and a handful of other users who have worked out the kinks to this trick often upload the APKs to public hosts like mediafire so that all other eDGe users can get them and share them. There are a few such links scattered around the forum, including the new user Welcome Basket.