Joseph, the Slabodka-Kovna kollel in Europe consisted of 5 years of learning, after which the members left to perform klei kodesh. There was no “lifetime support”. Kollel learning is a great mitzvah. but it is not the priority in tyerms of funds that an elementary school is. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Gamla didn’t make a takanah to have kollels in every city. Lulav and esrog is a big mitzvah too. But stealing someone’s esrog to perform a mitzvah is an aveirah. Pressuring someone to give up money they don’t have so you can buy a mehudar esrog isn’t a kitzvah. Pressuring people to give up money they don’t have so you can learn isn’t a mitzvah either. I’m all for kollel learning, but not on someone else’s cheshbon. Let the gevirim sponsor whatever kollel yungeleit they can afford.
During the National Service for Women controversy, the chazon Ish expressed the opinion that it was worth trading all the yeshiva support to prevent the bill from getting passed. The Chazon Ish knew how vital yeshivos were to the continuation of klal Yisroel. But he also knew how to prioritize. Right now, there’s not enough money for everyone. The community has to prioritize. Health care and education costs have skyrocketed over the last decade. It’s not fair to stay in kollel on the backs of people who don’t want to pay for it. That’s an eveirah, not a mitzvah. Perhaps we can use the “Slabodka” rules- after 5 years, don’t expect to be subsidized.