I feel like I should ask the legality of using non-browser based options such as flashpoint or newgrounds player, when submitting a run it states "emulating is banned" but I'm unsure if these fall under that restriction.

It will be allowed to use non-browser options. Not sure if you have to call them "emulations", if they still use flash player. So Unless you are emulating flash player somehow, runs are valid.

fair enough, I'm not too experienced with flash so thought I'd make sure before running