That’s not strictly true, lots of people are eligible for an early C permit after 5 years here but they don’t qualify for citizenship.
Agree, edited my post.
Your entry and leaving dates will be recorded at the airport, nosy neighbours will know you’re gone for long periods and will tell the authorities that if questioned.
You can try it and you may get away with it but the consequences if caught trying to play the system will not be pretty.
If you want to leave for more than six months to travel the world the easiest thing to do is put the c permit on hold.
The easiest thing to do is to wander down to your commune and discuss it with them. As long as you intend to keep Switzerland as your home you shouldn’t have any problems. If you try to cheat then you need to expect the consequences.
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There’s no single clear criteria that determines where your center of life is, but it’ll be up to you to prove your case when asked. The question may well arise even if you’re absent for less than 6 months but do so multiple years. I guess it would make a difference if you tour multiple different countries each time, or it’s always one only and that’s your home country.
Read Zürich’s directive on when the permit lapses (Weisung Erlöschen der Bewilligung). And do read the federal court verdicts referenced in that directive, IIRC one is on someone who matches your first question.
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I know that trying to outsmart the system is not recommended. However, you can fly from none-Swiss airports (like Milano) and come every X weeks to check your post… we are talking about 7 months here, so I wouldn’t go for a freeze process (and cacnel all your Swiss contracts, ec).
They won’t ask and you won’t tell…