You're talking apples and oranges here. The NEC applies only to the installation of appliances, not the internals of the appliances themselves.
While you've got your micrometer out, check out a replaceable element fuse. You will also find a "conductor" a lot smaller than what your understanding of code requires. Some things are supposed to get hot. That's how they work.
Even if you were to apply the code, there are at least ten exceptions recognised by the code. Several of them relate to motors.
I'll congratulate you for reading the code- few even try. I suggest that you try to look at the NEC as a whole, and not get too hung up on any one part. And- don't forget the introduction, which outlines what the code is intended to cover, and what limitations there are.
