ZD, How could things have been worse than the holocaust other than every jew wiped out.
You assume that there was enough talmud Torah to protect, yet it didn’t. You too are guilty of denying the words of Chaza”l, and making up facts to bolster your position.
ROB, in other discussions, you claimed that kollel en masse is a new innovation.
I am sure you know that throughout the centuries, wealthy jews always took as their sons-in law talmidei chachomim and helped them for years to study. (until they got a position, by the way). What people object to today is the blanket acceptance that everone should learn in a kollel “le-olam vo-ed”. THAT- for sure- was never the case and that, for sure, will bankrupt us. Take selected individuals- help them for a number of years and to that, no one would object.
(other places as well, IIRC)
Now you claim that there was more learning then than now (which would be difficult to fathom if so many fewer people were learning full time).
Your facts seem to change depending on the argument.