Team members that are motivated by pressure and deadlines, and whose output varies day-to-day, greatly outnumber team members who diligently work through their list of tasks at a consistent and optimal pace.

This is the fundamental reason why sprints exist.

If you exist in an environment where all team members are highly motivated, consistent, diligent, and pulling in the same direction then yes, sprints are a distraction, but it is my experience that teams that are genuinely like that are rare as hen's teeth.