If item degradation was tied to long rests (which is the only indication of time passing that I can think of), then it is somewhat a counter intuitive process - the thing you spend a big chunk of consumables on is the thing which causes unused consumables to spoil. What would be an intended benefit? Using as much items as possible in encounters? Gathering as much food only as is needed for next rest or two and leaving the rest for later? I don't see a rewarding gameplay loop there.
Can you explain your line of thinking here? I don't see how consumables (potions, scrolls) expiring after X long rests is counter intuitive. If you're talking about food spoiling, then yes that's kind of circular - you have to spend the food on resting in order for it to not expire. But you don't spend potions & scrolls in order to rest. You'd be encouraged to use them more often and go as long as possible with rests to make use of your consumables.
