Toward a "modern" Emacs

Even if you own the copyrights on your own work, if you are employed as a software developer the FSF will require a disclaimer from your employer confirming that they disclaim any interest in the works you are creating and contributing. As a person at an employer who had to create a process to produce these disclaimers for our employees, it is indeed a hassle.

So, if you are employed as a software developer, you will need to get your employer to sign an FSF document either way: either a copyright assignment, or a disclaimer.