> insisting they couldn't complete the sale without it

I worked there in the 80s. Early 80s was paper. Late 80s was terminal. Typing an R in the first name field bypassed this obligation IIRC.

Reason RS was so insistent is the company originally started via mail order and wanted this revenue stream to not dwindle....although it obviously did by the 80s.

PS: There's a business who still has their Tandy Leather sign out front in my city.

What if your first name was Roger? :)