How about using "Memberships"? I was disappointed with "moderated" memberships, as then all users had to be members (there are no non-moderated defaults) and verified to buy. But, I made the memberships non-moderated and now no one can actually sign-up as a member, but they must be assigned membership in the admin. That would fit wholesale customers. Thus, non-moderated meberships still count, but the user doesn't ever see them.
You could then have displayed "" or whatever by using membership and login statements, like in /main/register_account.tpl for example ...
Code:
{if $userinfo.login eq $login and $login and $userinfo.usertype ne "C"}
- mike