Emily cannot drop out of her event, because I don't think she is skating well enough right now to make it out of sectionals. If she wants to go to Nationals this year, I think it would be better for her to do her GP event, even if she skates poorly, and still have a bye to Nats, than to go to sectionals and quite possibly not make the top 4 there.
I'd rather she go to sectionals, which she likely would NOT make it out of (unless they held her up which would be unfair) and free up a spot for the amazing alissa czisny.