I disagree that the equipment grounding conductor is inappropriately named. From the very beginning of the Code there have been two types of grounding; equipment grounding, and system grounding. The equipment grounding conductor connects equipment to the earth in both grounded and ungrounded systems. By doing so, the potential between the equipment and earth is limited. Equipment grounding is something that takes place throughout the entire premises wiring system, while bonding on the other hand, is simply a POINT of connection, either mechanically, or through the use of a short length of conductor in the form of a wire or busbar. Anyway, thats how I understood it when I first read the 1981 NEC. If someone doesn't understand the difference between system grounding and equipment grounding, changing the name of one term is not going to help them.