I'm not missing your point, you are not understanding how things work. BIL of OP can buy LOAD mutual funds at NAV, because he's registered. With some fund families, you can buy at NAV for family members, so he could get American Funds or Franklin or Oppenheimer for NAV for family members. I'm sure NOT everyone on here knows that...........
So after you buy in at NAV are the 12B1 fees gone and the other expenses also lower.