I'm a big fan of lists - they are opinions, and opinions are interesting. Whilst it is important to include the NGC/IC identifier (if for no other reason than to locate them in my ArgoNavis), they also need their own identifiers just so the user of the list can be systematic about observing them.
If anything, the Messier and Caldwell catalogues are much better documented than NCG/IC - even if they don't include my new fave, NGC 1535 (or AstroJunk 001 as it shall now be known
)