[PeterisP]

I believe that teaching and research should be treated as two different career paths - they require different skill sets and motivation, and it would be great if people could choose to proceed in one or another or both if they want. The only thing that would have to change is how the universities make their job offers; make two distinct positions and recruit for both.

[kazagistar]

Such things exist... successful researchers can get buyouts from most of their classes at some universities. The problem is, there is way more teaching that needs to be done then research that needs to be paid for.

Also, in many places, the professors teach the grad students, who teach the undergrads in kind, like a big pyramid, but it requires active research to keep the professors relevant to the grad students.