I'm not trying to argue with you, but in my experience that isn't the case.
I know of guns being purchased on a "face-to-face" basis all the time. Hand the cash over, take the firearm, shake hands, go your way.
My FFL buddy and I were talking yesterday about a couple tables at our local gun shows where the sellers have a placard up that says ALL SALES FACE TO FACE CASH ONLY.
They aren't FFL buyers or sellers and they don't do any background checks. My buddy says it may be a gray area (or maybe it's not) but those guys are there every year, sale after sale.
Exactly. Those guys are not Federal Firearms Dealers and they are Americans selling their own private property. Which is what the government wants control of more than guns.