So I'll be the opposing voice.
Dh and I saved, saved, saved and now he's dead and I'm a widow.
I wish I had saved less and did the things dh and I dream of more. I wish I had saved less and taken the family trips we wanted but didn't just to be able to pay cash for the new a/c instead of financing it.
Now I don't know what "considerable" debt means to you, different folks it means different things. You say no grieving child should have to bear witness to their parents devastation, well no mother should have to call her freshman son at college to tell him to get on the first flight smoking because his dad is dying and might not make it through the night.

Yeah I proudly say
MONEY IS NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN MY LIFE ANYMORE. (not saying that it is for anyone else, simply speaking for myself)
So I'll embrace the "irresponsiblity" label because if it comes between spending time with my sons or paying a bill. vacation time with my sons will always, always be first.
Now I'll also add, I've never needed to do disney for that, I can find less expensive ways but skipping a vacation. Never again!!
I'll also add, that I lost my husband a few months ago so maybe this is just fresh grief. ask me this question again in a year or so and I may feel different.
Interestingly enough for all the folks who claim to pay off the debt, most voted the middle ground.