Wow. It's almost like I didn't say it isn't normal. I think you even quoted me saying it isn't normal. True getting sick completely screws this plan. However even with a week of vacation each year you can still make this kind of check every 14 months. For the 3rd or 4th time this isn't normal, but completely doable. Not sure why it is lame. Stating the good facts along side of the bad is a good thing. It's why people come to these sites. To get a few facts along with the massive amounts of BS and complaining.
Because it is a once a year occorance if you sell back all your vacation and sick time. Its not just abnormal, it is hyper-abnormal. And mostly because you didn't explain all of this upfront in your original post.