One day we will learn that overworking people is not beneficial. We will fix being short-staffed before it becomes an unsustainable problem. Until then, my vacation is worth gold.
In toxic cultures, you have to burn out to earn a break. Time off is how you recover.
In decent cultures, you take a break when you're low on gas. Time off is how you refuel.
In healthy cultures, you're expected to take regular breaks. Time off is encouraged to sustain energy.