DY – WADR, the Taz & the Shach agree with me that the issue there is Maalin Kedusha, not importance.
If you know of someone who disagrees and says it is because Torah learning is more important than either a Bais Knesses or Limud HaTorah for children (listed in 249:16) or marrying off Yesomos (listed in 249:15), I would be glad to see them, but that is not the opinion of the Shulchan Aruch.
BTW, see the Pischei Teshuva there regarding Talmidim and Melamdim. It may be a societal thing (the melamdim where guys who could hit hard), and I wonder what the halacha would be today with our rabbaim.