@n0mesorah I’m not sure to whom you were responding when c you said “it’s not the rambam’s view.”
If it was to my bringing rav Leff’s pshat in the rambam, then I do think it’s the rambam’s view.
That’s why in hilchos Talmud Torah he brings the mishna in avos describing a person who’s using the Torah for one’s personal gain. The person is using learning Torah as a means of supporting himself.
In shmita v’yovelos he says that anybody who wants to dedicate himself to Hashem like the Leviim did can do so (it’s clear he’s not just talking about every 7th year but all the time).
This person is kodesh kedoshim and it’s a mitzvah to support him.
The rambam is comparing this person to the Leviim, who are dedicated servants of Hashem who are supported by the tzibbur, and he’s saying that anybody who also wants to be dedicated to Hashem can be in the same category.
Rav Leff’s pshat fits very well: if your goal is to dedicate yourself to Hashem, and being supported by others is a necessary means, then it’s totally fine.
If the goal is to support yourself, and learning Torah is the means, ten then it’s completely forbidden.
What problem do you have with this pshat?