He's not kidding. The permit is done on this tissue thin paper with several layers and the carbon paper built into it. So, you need the typewriter to press hard through all the copies. It's nearly impossible to then carry the permit around with you without turning it into a crumbled mess. I had carried a photocopy of it shrunken down to fit in wallet, no idea if that was legal, but it hardly matters now unless I'm on an ATV.
The paper licenses are not that bad. I've kept one in my wallet for 20+ years and it is just fine. That includes getting wallets soaking wet a few times over the years.