Can you remember which firmware it came with?
I know what you're trying to do
Jumping to conclusions eh buddy? I know discussion of that sort is against rules here, but for argument's sake I'll call it Cafe. Having Cafe doesn't make one a pirate, but does allow for it. In the same way that torrent software has non-piracy uses (but most people assume it's used for shady stuff, which is somewhat fair in that instance I guess). E.g. OCRemix (no relation to OCUK) is a website that allows artists to host their video-game related original music on for free use, with both direct download links and torrent links.
I will say that I have Cafe and yet I still buy my games (And I even bought Pokemon Moon at an absurd price I shouldn't have bought it at). It has so many other useful features. Save data management allows one to have multiple save files on games with single save slots (like Pokemon), one can customise their 3DS home menu with any unofficial themes (literally any image you want, like a PC desktop background), one can take screenshots of any game, run imported games region-free (like the original DS could). I've used it to play some Japanese Monster Hunter I imported. I also used it to transfer over my Cosplay Pikachu to my new OmegaRuby save file, since Pokemon Bank doesn't support transferring that particular Pokemon. I've heard some people use Cafe to have a digital library of their physical game collection (i.e. never having to change cartridges), but that's more of a grey area (I guess it's still okay since they own the game).
Some of the coolest features include allowing one to stream 3DS (aka video capture) without having to spend absurd amounts of money on a capture card (extra hardware) and that is one of the most popular uses of Cafe. Especially since the normal ways of hardware based capture are both vastly overpriced and unreliable (send your 3DS off to a stranger and hope they don't run off with your money and 3DS). I know AngryJoe (popular Youtube reviewer) tried to modify his 3DS so that he could stream the games he bought, but his firmware was too high. New 3DS models can also overclock their CPU, which can help in some games with framerates and performance. In that regard, Cafe is like custom flashing one's GPU bios.
So please don't jump to conclusions. My guess is that our pal probably wants to stream/record gameplay, if I recall, didn't he have a Youtube channel?