dave I guess I wasn't clear, what I meant was, IF you are using the early regulator with a late alternator, then you just ground one field terminal.

I don't know why the pictorial won't load, works fine here.

However, your answer may have been confusing to some as well, with your statements referring to "the field grounds through the regulator"

To be clear, what happens is that the late regulator REGULATES by CONTROLLING the current through the regulator to ground.

Nobody is trying to reinvent the wheel. Corvette already did that with their stupid directional and front/ rear wheels and tires.