g_a_w: As I mentioned at least twice, my stance was posed against those who b’shita do not support kollelim. that doesn’t seem to be the case by your explanation.
IS: So you’re saying, the most important thing is that a person be productive, if not in learning than at work. And you are right, according to the Maharsha’s interpretation of the gemarah in Kesubos mentioned above, “???? ?????” is someone who can learn but instead loafs around all day.
What I am saying is that the most important thing is that a person should be learning, if not at kollel then at work and if not even at work then at least at kollel.
The point was that at least in kollel they are learning a little bit, which is more than they might otherwise have been learning. And every little bit of Torah is important for the person and the klal.
The truth is, that even regardless of all that, why should we lose the people who are serious about learning and do put their hours in? Isn’t that biting my nose to spite my face?