Keep in-mind, when Ephedra was initially banned as a diet product the FDA didn't have a whole lot of time with which to decide how they were going to interpret the enforcement of the Laws. Now that overturn of the ban has been enforced in appeals Courts, I personally would rather play it safe than sorry. Buying at a gas station is much different than ordering online. The DEA's efforts have been concentrated a lot on Internet buying of illegal things because of the whole steroid deal. Why go where we know they are? Just seems like an unnecessary risk when one could just go to a gas station (like you say, though I've never seen ephedrine or many bronchial-dilators in gas stations) and SEE there's no Cops around.
That's just my suggestion. I've been using pseudoephedrine and for a couple of months either early this year or late last year (I forget), some pharmacies were even taking THAT off the shelves in anticipation of more bans coming for pseudo, let alone the L-ephedrine alkaloid.
It's just muddy waters right now is all, and I think people should tread carefully.