I Want a Sabbatical

I wonder why sabbaticals are most common in academia, where they already typically get summers off? I want a sabbatical! Wikipedia says academic sabbaticals typically run at seven-year intervals of full-time employment, with the most common arrangement for a half-year at full pay, or a full year at half pay. I WANT THAT!! I'm a big fan of "it never hurts to ask" so maybe when I'm ready to make my next career move, if it's still w/Dell, I'll ask for a sabbatical to coincide w/the transition. Or maybe I'll follow Phoebe's suggestion and get into academia so I can at least get summers off w/her!