I believe the 286 supported virtual memory and memory protection but lacked a way to go from protected mode back to real mode, so it couldn't multitask real-mode DOS programs.
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Sure you could you just wrote into NVRAM the magic cookie "Hey I'm really coming out of protected mode" and pulled reset low. (sarcasm of course)
I worked at Intel at the time and this "hack" really bothered me as a young engineer.
BTW, I read that you were involved in testing early 80386 chips. I have an email sent to you asking for more information on 80386 steppings.