I have a suspicion that German native speakers equate as well as with sowie – they simply see it as a convenient alternative to und/and. To me, this is a telltale sign that an English text has been written by a German (although not as excruciating as A respectively B).

Correction to #11: "...had the writer not been attempting to avoid repeating that word)."

That's what happens when you're trying to cut way down on your morning coffee while at the same time trying to make some sort of contribution to the thread in between tight deadlines involving rescuing poor translations.

There's a longer discussion of the topic here.

"As well as is not a synonym for and

As well as cannot be used to mean and. The expression X as well as Y means not only Y but also X (note that X and Y are reversed). While and simply conjoins two (or more) expressions, as well as places unequal emphasis on the two expressions — the expression preceding as well as carries a stronger emphasis than the expression following it.

John, as well as Mary, came to the party. [not only Mary but also John; emphasis on John]

  The programme aims to recruit Sami students as well as students from other countries. [not only students from other countries but also Sami students; emphasis on Sami students]"

The expression as well as is more emphatic than a simple and, so I’d reserve it for cases that suggest sowohl … als auch or nicht nur …, sondern auch.