My tabletop games we could rest whenever if we had the supplies for it.
It's fine. Unless you actually enjoy your mages swatting at things with crossbows because you're out of spell slots and can trips keep missing.
I've no problem with it. Especially since the story doesn't advance if you don't use The Thing and you need to rest for it to.
Except one of the notable aspects of 5e is that spellcaster's cantrips are comparable, if not better, than melee or ranged weapon attacks (if only because a spellcaster's spellcasting stat should be higher than their Str or Dex = better chance to hit). Plus, beyond 3rd level, spellcasters should have enough leveled slots to get them through multiple fights.
And in regards to your first line, one argument is that we're getting supplies too frequently in 5e. So frequently, in fact, that they're basically meaningless and might as well not exist.
