Referencing the NICS check thread title: Gunsmith switched his FFL licensing to a lesser classification because of the increase to $2K+ "fee" (tax) for permission to "manufacture" (sometimes a small metal part is easier to make than purchase) -- and this is a result of the US government signing on to a UN mandate.
Anyway, because of the license change, he was required to send all the paperwork required by the ATF for each client -- weapon serial number, name, address, driver's license number; the book of 4473 forms -- to the ATF.
If they're not keeping records, as they say, why do they want this information, what are they doing with it, and why not just leave it in the hands of the FFL holder? Rhetorical.