Purchasing a handgun for someone else

[Aguila Blanca]

...it seems like what everyone is saying essentially is that the background check is meant to ensure the purchaser is ok to own the gun, but there's nothing that says they can't turn around and give the gun to someone that would themselves fail the background check, is that right?

No, that's wrong.

Irrespective of whether or not PA state law allows you to transfer a handgun within PA without going through an FFL, you may NOT ever transfer a firearm to a person whom you know or have reason to believe is not allowed to possess a firearm. (That would mean someone who would fail a background check.)