Founders who've raised money, was it actually worth it?

Been hearing a lot of "don't raise money, investors just push you to grow too fast so they can exit, even if it breaks the business" from people around me lately.

Never actually raised myself, so can't tell if that's real experience talking or just internet cynicism.

Curious what founders who've actually taken money would say.

Was that pressure real, or manageable. Did raising help more than it hurt, or was the warning right

Genuinely trying to hear both sides before forming an opinion on this.