You filed an application to get the FFL. You ASKED THEM to "regulate" YOU, by ASKING them, to give YOU THEIR license under THEIR conditions, and agreed to abide by same.
So, what THEY say, goes, because you asked them to......
Agreed....kinda'
But to follow your line of reasoning it could be said that I've "asked" the goobermint to grant me my Driver's License too. This does not give them any rights regarding my property (in this case the vehicle) and while they may ASK "do you mind if we rifle through your possessions" I certainly have the right to say no.
And BTW I didn't "ask" them to "grant me" a FFL. I applied for it in good faith, as an upstanding member of the community. They couldn't NOT issue it to me. It's a business proposition. Likewise in my construction businesses I do agree to conform to Codes and Practices as "defined by" the code books but these codes are just like speed limits, they're laws/rules which We The People have agreed to for the greater good of our society. "The Government" didn't and doesn't define anything. WE provided the definitions and agree to abide......nowhere is there a "requirement" that I answer the stupid questions that some code enforcement officer dreams up. (And it does happen....)
I fear NO line of questioning because I obey the defined letter of the current law, my job is simply to know that law better than the enforcement body does.
Which I do.
Nor do I fear my government
I useta' think there was some "smart people" somewhere "higher up" that "ran things" but now I'm older.......and I've been there, behind the curtain......and sorry to say, it's turtles, JUST turtles all the way down.
edited to add
Brian, I'm sorry to have mis-read your intent regarding "asking for" an FFL...... I was hearkening back to an earlier discussion on the subject and my comments are completely off-base from your clearly stated intent.
In short, you are right. My discursion is irrelevant to your point.