[marktwain]

It was always clear that an actual stock was an NFA item.

Always is a long time. It did not become "clear" until well after WWII.

Regardless, I’ll stick to my main point - NFA is the problem, the brace issue is just a symptom. You main point is absolutely correct.

[Wayne07]

“It did not become “clear” until well after WWII.”

You are right, but we are talking about over half a century now.