Yes, Mike9241, your solution works. I.e., it gets past TurboTax's tax return review requirement to have an EIN.
I found another solution with which I am more comfortable. Having filled out the 1099-R with no EIN, before running the review go to the 4853 form, override the EIN and then blank it out. After all, Form 4853 field 6 label says: "Employer's or Payer's TIN (if known)". So the form itself is not requiring an EIN.
