> Did the restrictions on third party software and such apply to franchise stores?
No. They always could and did sell third-party computer products, while Tandy-owned stores only began doing so alongside the Tandy 1000, since it would be ridiculous to not sell the PC software that the computer exists to run.
plowjockey
That is kind of what I thought, that the local stores had various titles hanging on the wall but since none of it interested me at the time I ignored it and so it's not seared into my memory.
No. They always could and did sell third-party computer products, while Tandy-owned stores only began doing so alongside the Tandy 1000, since it would be ridiculous to not sell the PC software that the computer exists to run.