It's not just that he wanted to create game-changing electric cars that could compete with their gas-powered cousins (though he did). It's not just that he eschewed traditional advertising (which he did, although fans have picked up the slack). And it's not just that he's been generous with his potentially lucrative patents (though he definitely has).

No, Musk and Tesla's biggest hurdle in the U.S. has been bypassing conventional dealerships, selling directly to consumers -- something that's illegal in most states thanks to a nationwide patchwork of decades-old franchise laws.