First of all, I’m not sure if you meant it this way, but in context I understood your joke to be referring to people who would like to be supported by their parents /in-laws for a few years (assuming, obviously, that they can afford it) while they sit in kollel.
I’m not coming to disagree with Rav Wolfson. In fact, both myself and my friends can testify that we are not living anything like doctors. But we know Torah is one of the three things that was given b’yisurin (Berachos 5a) and besides for yichidei segulah, this is the only way to do it.
The Chofetz Chaim (Chofetz Chaim al haTorah by the brachos of Yissachar and Zevulun in Vayichi and others)writes that together the Machzikei Torah and the Lomdei Torah are called the Amudei Olam because it is only through the combined effort of both Yissachar and Zevulun that Torah can be learned.
In Pekudei he writes that the yetzer hora saw that he couldn’t stop the Lomdei Torah he turned to the ba’alei batim and there he was matzliach because they do not know how great the chiyuv is to support Torah. In a footnote he brings the Zohar as explaining that this is what is meant when the sar of Esav hit Yaakov’s thigh, the thigh supports the body just like the machzikei Torah support the Lomdim.
Jokes like these support this vort of the Chofetz Chaim. Yes, I understand that there is some naivety with some bochurim who misjudge their level of bitachon thinking that they do not have to make any sort of plans before they enter marriage.
But this joke is very popular among parents whose children sit and learn. From the parents’ aspect these jokes teach that there is no reason for parents or in-laws to support their children -as much as they are able- in order that they can learn. They help to undermine the gadlus of being mechazek Lomdei Torah in people’s eyes and especially the eyes of the parents themselves.
So I ask you again. Where does this joke extol the greatness of Machzikei Torah?