John,
Last time I talked to Suzanne, she said that under the '08 code, we will have to make the bonding grid in and around all pools and/or hot tubs whether they are on dirt or not. Unless the 3' around the pool is non conductive, (i.e.wood rubber, etc)the grid would have to go in.
If an above ground (A/G) was all plastic, I think we still need a bonding grid (or ring) around the pool that would go back to the motor.
With the In ground (I/G) pools. I have seen many times where they lay the wire mesh inside the concrete around the pool. The copper grid was only used when there were pavers around the pool. I have also seen a I/G pool with metal fins that were bolted to the pool which stuck out 3' around the pool. As long as they were bolted and stainless steel bolts, they were accepted as the ground grid.
