RE: But even if I joined that game, I would realize that IRS has de minimis rules and isn't going to fuss over a piddling amount of $1,056. 

Years ago, a client got audited.  I asked the agent to shed some light on what had triggered the audit.  After all, there wasn't much to audit for the mostly W2 client.  The reply was "The Form 1099". 

Wifie sold $600 worth of natural drinks in one of those pyramid sales sca...  um.... schemes and no income was reported on the $600+ Form 1099.  She didn't even know what that dang paper was for.  That was a long, long time ago, when an auditor nicknamed Maddog was  around at the local service center.