[ccelectro]

"But the neutral wire only serves one purpose, it is basically the ground wire for the electrical circuit, that is its one and only job," This is not correct, the neutral wire is a load carrying conductor, the ground is for short circuit protection. Your circuit has to have a return, this is your neutral. the ground is bonded to the neutral at the first means of disconnect on the service only. If you have a wire short or touch any thing like your appliance or your pluming, the ground will give it a direct path to your short circuit protection and not leave it live.