Also note that when you go back to the 18th century and earlier, it's 
fairly easy to find examples where conjunction with 'and' does not make 
the NP take a plural verb, even though current usage would definitely 
require the plural (i.e., we're not talking about instances like 
"drinking and driving _is_ illegal"),

Hence you have Shakespeare writing:

"The nature of our people,
Our city's institutions, and the terms
For common justice, you are as pregnant in
As art and practice _hath_ enriched any
That we remember." (Measure for Measure, I.i)

Even Lowth did not wholly disapprove of it. Here are his remarks. Note 
particularly his rationalization of the exceptions:

'Two or more Nouns in the Singular Number, joined together by one or 
more Copulative Conjunctions (1), have Verbs, Nouns, and Pronouns, 
agreeing with them in the Plural Number: as, "_Socrates and Plato were_ 
wise; _they were_ the most eminent _Philosophers_ of Greece." But 
sometimes, after an enumeration of particulars thus connected, the Verb 
follows in the Singular Number; and is understood as applied to each of 
the preceding terms: as,--"The glorious Inhabitants of those sacred 
places, where nothing but light and blessed immortality, no shadow of 
matter for tears, discontentments, griefs, and uncomfortable passions to 
work upon; but all _joy, tranquility, and peace_, even for ever and ever 
_doth dwell_." Hooker B. i. 4. "Sand, and salt, and a mass of iron, _is_ 
easier to bear, than a man without understanding" Eccles xxii. 15 (1).'

With Lindley Murray and later writers, though, this exception is removed.

Craig Hancock wrote:
>    The OED lists a number of uses of "As well as" in conjunctive role,
> dating way back. This, from Mallory, is typical: 1470-85 MALORY Arthur
> IX. xxxvi. 397 Whan men ben hote in dedes of armes ofte they hurte
> their frendes as wel as their foes.
> 
>    In this example, you could think "their friends" as news and "their
> foes" almost as given, so that may be a useful pattern to emulate.
> 
>    It's interesting that their one example of a structure in subject
> position is treated as singular: 1821 CRAIG Lect. Drawing etc. vii. 404
> The back-ground as well as other parts is dotted or stippled.
> 
>     I think the commentary in Karl's post is by far the most thoughtful.
> In a nutshell, common sense would call for some flexibility even
> though prescriptive grammars present the singular as "correct."
> 
> Craig
> 
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