jothar- as a matter fact, if I would have my druthers, I would eliminate 90% of the kollel positions. I don’t see where the status of a rabbi (for all you know, mt screen name may be a nickname) obligates one to accept a way of life that was never , ever part of our tradition and a way of life that stands squarely against a slew of gemoros, mitzvos, rishonim and more. Just start from mishpitom, go through kessubos,kiddushin and berochos and check the rishonim and you will see that what is happening now is absolutely wrong.
I did not want to get into another discussion of whether there should kollel or not….but your question needed an answer.
BTW- what does WIC have to do with being a talmid chochom?
Everyone agrees that there should be a LIMITED amount of people who are learning ,so as to prepare the next dor. What is objectionable is the fact that everyone ends up relying upon the rather stretched means of the klal.