I have heard, that it is still up to you to put the tax on tax return, but FFL is scared of government. Dunno.
As far as ridicule, men need to be men again. Unless he tells you it was a stupid purchase, take it as back handed complement. It's true. But lucky you, you can afford it. Which might be what a man would say. Or I put the hours in, or if you had to do my job, you would splurge. Those are things men say.
One time bought, $220 model 10, wanted cheap gun, it had been refinished. Young guy says how bad it loojed, I said I didn't think was awful. He says, I do. That was rude, but I got over it. I haven't seen him in awhile either.
One place I go has lots of high end guns. They would not have batted an eye, at your bargain gun.