Wow, we are very much on the same wavelength, regarding your first paragraph. I've always been frustrated as a chemist by colleagues who use technical terms inappropraitely just to put a little kick in their funding sales pitch. There are a hundred examples I can think of where people could use very precise terminology if they chose to, but instead they use the buzzwords.
Sad, really, they don't realize how they are affecting the next generation of scientists - if you lose the ability (or never obtain it) to clearly communicate your ideas to others, you lose the ability to think them up. There's a much more eloquent way to say that but no time!
HAGD
Agree with your plural nouns comment. Makes more sense to refer to the team as a group of individuals than as a group.
=)