OP
oldtimer
Think of it this way earth and neutral are both 0v potential but the earth is a protective circuit the neutral is the return path for the load both may be the same as you say but both do different jobs if you want to think of it that way.
Things do get a bit fuzzy in the modern house with plastic baths, sinks,pipes but rememember 50years ago + most installations got their main earth from the gas and or water supply pipe because they were metal so in a house then the pipework for the water and heating were all metal ie storage tank in the attic was tin so your installation was mechanically and electrically sound then they started putting in pastic tanks /sinks hence why the cross bonding. Now fast forward we have RCD protection and we no longer get our earth from water gas we no have to bond them as they enter the house
Things do get a bit fuzzy in the modern house with plastic baths, sinks,pipes but rememember 50years ago + most installations got their main earth from the gas and or water supply pipe because they were metal so in a house then the pipework for the water and heating were all metal ie storage tank in the attic was tin so your installation was mechanically and electrically sound then they started putting in pastic tanks /sinks hence why the cross bonding. Now fast forward we have RCD protection and we no longer get our earth from water gas we no have to bond them as they enter the house