It has nothing to do with inductive kick-back. When you break an ac circuit with a switch the arc quenches within 1/2 a cycle. When you break a dc circuit with a switch the arc quenches when there is insufficient power dissipated in the arc to generate enough plasma to sustain the arc across the contact gap. That is why the dc current and/or voltage ratings of a switch are usually very much less than the ac current and/or voltage ratings. The dc ratings are reduced to limit the power available to sustain an arc.
Stored energy in an inductor might make pretty blue sparks but it only sustains an arc until it runs out.