Do they really value their dealers? I would think many at Ford (and everywhere) would like to move to an internet based sales system and skip the dealer.
MB dealer asked for the same on the '01 CLK430 I ordered for the wife, it was a lease so I signed it, who cares on a lease? BTW: It was a very nice car but horribly overpriced, but it was part of the high life pre 9/11.