I would say if there was an elevated deck of non-conductive material around the above ground pool, 3 feet out, no grid. If you can stand in the mud and put your hand in the pool, grid. The rule said "paved surface" in 2005, now it just says "perimeter surface" which would include grass/mud.
Reno the grid requirement in concrete was rebar, bonded, just like pool steel or you could use the copper mesh, later (2008) reduced to a single #8 ring.
The reality is, a single #3 rebar looping the pool might be cheaper that the #8 copper. They also removed the word "bar" so, presumably it could be regular "six over" steel mesh.
Ask your AHJ
