I can't comment on Ontario but I have purchased an unrestricted firearm in Alberta from a retail outlet with the PAL number only prior to receiving the actual card.
They weren't sure it would work but the Alberta CFO had advised that there would be no problem and the store put it through (online) without any issues.
Also to clear up any uncertainty about the process, the CFC does the background work and the prov. CFO approves the application. The CFO is the office that is in the position to grant approval over the phone.
Following approval either office would have access to the PAL number but in my experience the Alberta CFO is far easier to deal with than the CFC.
Let's keep this thread to PAL approvals, there are lots dealing with the time it takes to get restricted transfers done.
By the way, the .000 suffix number increases by one every time the licence is renewed or changed. The original licence number stays the same.
If you have a POL and change to a PAL your new number will be the same plus one.
A vendor does not need to see the .000 number as part of the sale transaction, they only input the main licence number.