Oh my, even though electrical and legal questions draw more opinions then most other topics, if you throw in the "G" word it gets even worse lol A few thoughts:
Some cities/towns/counties have passed and adopted certain "versions" of the NEC (NFPA 70 if I recall) and therefore made them into what can be called "law" by doing so, some cities like Chicago I believe have their own Electrical Code. Iffffffff the NEC has been adopted and ifffffffffffff the jurisdiction is required to perform an inspection on new construction, they wont issue a permit until the installation has passed. Violate it and there can be stiff penalties. So in a sense, it can be called "LAW", at least that's what I as an Attorney and retired Electrical Power Distribution Engineer consider it, take or leave that at your own risk and peril and do however you please and call it law or not or anything you wish!!! For those who don't think something is legal or the authority who has made the NEC into law in your area is harassing you, then sue the city and the NEC and defy their orders and see how that goes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have attended NEC training and update seminars taught by trained experienced professional electrical experts who serve on the board, and no offense to Billy Bob or anyone here, its my opinion they know more about electrical safety then non electricians and non techs and non engineers. Just because a non electrical trained person does NOT understand electricity or the NEC does NOT mean they are right and the NEC is wrong!!! HOWEVER if anyone has a safer method and can prove, it take it up with the NEC because many of their changes and updates is because someone was killed or a house burned down so I'm sure they will be glad to listen.
A buildings electrical service requires "grounding" and when I practiced the NEC required the incoming Utility Neutral be bonded to "all readily available grounding electrodes" which could be comprised of items such as metallic buried utility pipes,,,,,,,,,,,building structural steel,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"made electrodes" such as rod(s) driven into mother earth when no other electrodes were present such as in some residences.
What I call "earth grounding" of the Neutral (on HV Primary as well as LV Secondary) is more for lightning and surge protection and to tie the grid to one common low voltage reference MOTHER EARTH. Neutral Ground BONDING is to provide a single point connection of Neutral (a GrounDED Conductor) and the Equipment GroundING Conductor) so the EG can provide a dedicated low impedance current return path FOR FAULT CURRENT ONLY while the Neutral Grounded Conductor is there for normal return current NOT fault current.
Its impossible to explain and except non electricians to understand from a paragraph what can take books and years of study to understand so feel free to do as you wish and if this isn't right take it up with the NEC not me, because I cant guarantee at all I'm right, its been years and the NEC has changed so this may be all wrong, dont have a calf if it is now, I sincerely try my best.
John T BSEE, JD