Aaq, because the rema says “yes omrim afilu bbari” and says that that’s the minhag. His example is a rov, but it’s not limited to it; lefikach means that it’s an example of that din. The nosei keilim are clear that we follow those who argued on the rambam.
Others, including the ohr hachaim, say that in our time(450 years ago!) People are less spiritual and thus cannot learn and work in an ideal way, so it’s better to drop the work if possible
The idea of a choleh isn’t that he’s ill, it’s that he can’t practically do both. We cannot practically do both in our time, be successful in learning and make a living at the same time. Yes we can go to talmud readings at night, but this is, for most people, not the same as serious learning.