EMC popularity, and Parallel port pin configuration

Good evening. I would like to know if any of you know if any updates
have been done to EMC to allow changing of the mapping of pins to the
first parallel port, in the INI. My milling machine is relatively
simple (2 axis servo with G340's) and I don't want to add a second
Parallel port and attendant connectors just for my E-stop. I saw
some old posts in CAD_CAM that hinted that an update was coming to
allow this, but no details were discussed. Also, could any of you
tell me if EMC seems to have "gone obsolete" as it were? I don't see
many posts asking questions about it anymore. I have no problem
buying a current version of Art's software (probably Mach 2)but I
really like the stability of Linux, and the idea of staying away from
a Windows machine. Thanks for any opinions/information you can
provide.

Dan.