Rufio, "You can make all the rules you want, but you're just one person." ??? I don't make any of the rules. If you want to say "and etc." be my guest. Some rules have become outdated and are no longer rules. Some will never be outdated, regardless of usage. People who are not native English speakers need to know about rules. They provide the structure that makes the language accessible and understandable.
I'm with Roberta (as usual)... Some usages change over time, and they should; English is a living language. But "and etc." will always mean "and and other things" -- and to me, it's a sign of, at best, not paying attention.
Another thing I keep seeing is "ect." I think that's just sloppy!
Interesting useless fact: "The La Brea Tar Pits" (it's in Los Angeles and has yielded up a great number of fossils) actually means "the the tar tar pits" -- but I doubt we'll change the name at this late date...
