I don't disagree, and yes I am choosing to optimize for early retirement. Another reason that may not be obvious to non-US people is that PTO in many cases is cash money, especially if you can accrue and roll it over. If you used before you hit the cap you're leaving money on the table. Twice when I quit my job I got an extra month of salary.
But still pitiful and anti-health, on first principles. "Normal" though it may be in a workaholic and ideology-driven country like the U.S.
If it's a trade-off you choose to accept in exchange for early retirement, though, that's another matter.