The direct sales issue won't be a problem. With direct sales, that which you ordered gets shipped directly to your home. That's what Tesla is doing. Their "showrooms" are operated like an art gallery. You go there, see what you like, then go home and order it to be shipped to your home. However, that's not what Elio is doing. As per their site:
"Delivery: Once you make your choice of transmission, color, etc, we go to work fast and hard. We will have your new Elio cleaned and ready with options installed and back to the Retail Center within 24 hours of the order!Our distribution centers are designed to move Elios...lots of Elios, quickly, efficiently, and damage free. That is part of our commitment to you. Further, we are working on that fantastic “Factory Pick-up” program we mentioned earlier. Details are to follow, but this delivery involves a tour of the plant in Shreveport, Louisiana and more."
The Elio model will be no different really than what other manufacturers use. Even some the major companies allow you to order online and receive it through the nearest authorized dealership.
I think you need to go back and read the thread through a little more closely. The definition of 'direct sales' in this context is vehicles being sold directly by a manufacturer instead of through franchise dealerships. That's what the laws in several states are targeting and this would hurt Elio as, as you found, they want to be able to open retail center where they sell you a car directly and not through a franchise network.
You actually have it backwards as the Tesla 'art gallery' concept as you described is what Tesla uses to get around these laws in some states. In most states you can walk into a Tesla showroom and sign the purchase papers on the spot then you come back and pick it up and they will walk you through the vehicle. This is exactly like the Elio purchase concept which Elio is basically trying to copy from Tesla.