They're currently selling Teslas in NJ (without a middleman) and not having any legal problems because of it, so your example's premise seems to be flawed.
You have to dig deeper on the story than his post. They've been told for a long time that the license shouldn't have been issued and would be revoked and that a change in legislation was needed. Again, Musk knows all this. But it doesn't fit the dialogue.
Apparently what Tesla was initially told when NJ "discovered" a problem with their not-entirely-clear dealership law was that they would allow Tesla to keep selling until the legislature had a chance to clarify the issue.
Recently they were told differently: that the executive has made the decision, and they're shut down. Not much wonder that Elon's unhappy with the situation. Nobody likes the rug removed from under their feet. Plus it feels like (and probably is) inside ball when something like that happens.
Still, they do actually have the option now and they are losing it in the future. If the prospect was that they were going to keep being able to buy directly from Tesla, and that this was foiled by a backroom-deal (to put it in his words), then he is technically correct.
I can understand what you mean, but to the end consumer they are going from being able to buy a Tesla directly to not being able to.
