Is it possible that when designing the 8086, it's architect already had in
mind the 286?
In that processor the segments are capable of implementing a Multics-style
OS.
[that would assume the 8086 was a "quick hack" to tide Intel over until the
technology
for better chips existed]
And at that time the coming dominance of Unix-derived OS's (or of Microsoft)
was
not as obvious as we now may think with 20-20 hindsight.
Andy