I think the point is that the recent rise of manufacturer-direct sales is better - it tends to be a much more enjoyable experience, it allows you to avoid any sort of negotiations for a price (ie. you pay the price you see on the order page), and you get to spec out your exact car configuration instead of settling for whatever's on the lot.

Now, dealership laws in many states forbid the automaker from selling their cars directly to the consumer if they already have a dealership in the state, with their only recourse being that the automaker can say "you can't mark this car above MSRP", with varying levels of success.