At the panel the neutral wire block is connected the main ground, with this fact in mind, the ground and neutral are virtually the same.
The voltage potential at that point is the same. Through out the house that will not be the same. As an electrician you are fully aware in older houses the conduit itself was the ground. You try using that as your neutral is an accident waiting to happen.
Now back to the bubble busting. An ET is way up the food chain from an electrician.