If you factor in that during sleep your body is actively restoring your organs, and mind is flushing/filing the info collected during the wake hours. How many hours needed for that is an intriguing question. But hardly this time is wasted, unless your sleep is ... restless.

I recently watched an episode of "Nova" on the subject of sleep (Mysteries of Sleep), very convincing , even to some toddlers fussy about the sleep as usual :)

Still, it's upkeep. It's necessary, but I wish it wasn't, because it's expensive.

Exactly my point

Think about it the other way. The optimal, very best way for any living organism to live the most healthy and longest life possible is to only sleep and never wake up. That is the ideal state for your body and mind.

I recognize the need to eat, detoxicate and reproduce, but wish we could develop a way to keep sleeping while doing it :)

I find that hard to believe, you are going to need to eat and drink, which as far as I am aware you need to be awake for.

>If that were physically possible,

If. But it's not. Sleep is not an 'include' but a 'require' statement.

Sure, but I think how much is required has become a source of confusion, groupthink, and stress for many people.

Have you read up on polyphasic sleep?

I haven't tried it, but it does seem it is physically possible to sleep much less than 7-8 hours per 24 hour cycle.