checkout without email address

Is there a configuration setting that will allow customers to checkout without providing an email address?  

We have a segment of customers who place orders by phone (during which we use impersonation them to take their order), but some of the phone customers are older and do not have an email address, or simply will not provide it.  

We do not want to use anonymous/guest checkout since these are repeat customers with whom we maintain an order history and sometimes opt in for snail mail marketing.  

Entering a fake email address is an option but for database reasons I won't bore you with, we'd prefer to just disable the need to have an email address for a customer to checkout.

It seems to be a good idea for a practical problem you're facing. However, I am not sure how that can be solved without making changes into source code!

DougH wrote:

Hello Doug H-

Did you ever come up with a solution??
We have the same situation, which I posted here:
https://www.nopcommerce.com/boards/t/30621/how-do-i-remove-email-required-validation-from-shipping-address-please-help-me.aspx#164308

Thanks,
Steve