Did anyone do call-forwarding tricks back in the day?
We used to have a system using call-forwarding to call distant BBS's, via a city that was local to two cities that were LD from each other.
Fort Collins can call Berthoud. Berthoud can call Longmont. Long Distance from Foco to Longmont.
The guy with the BBS in Berthoud, had a menu. Select a board in Longmont, and the Berthoud board would disconnect you, and tell you to dial back in 30 seconds. During that 30 seconds, the board's modem did the call-forwarding codes, and when you call back, you're connected to Longmont. 30 seconds later, the Berthoud board undoes the call forwarding, and is ready for another call. It didn't disconnect the forwarded call.
We had a similar arrangement via Windsor, to Greeley.