Steering column ground?

so once upon a time, before collapsible columns, the 3 little nylon sliding clips in the column support were cast metal. The column ( shift indicator lamp and horn ) had no ground issues so a jumper wasn't req'd. The column might ground through the shaft, its bearings, the box coupling grease whatever but that ground path might come and go too. Anyway... When those little clips changed to plastic/nylon the ground jumper was added. Then key dingers and switch lighting came along to use the same chassis ground.
For what its worth, Fords had what was commonly called a rag joint where we have a box coupling. That rag joint had a ground jumper over it too. Without it in place their steering wheel mounted cruise control switches wouldn't work.