Charliehall, I don’t think you and I are disagreeing much. I agree that there is nothing wrong with secular studies, and one can be a real talmid chochom and have a college degree as well. We also seem to agree that to become a real talmid chochom (On the level of those gedolim who have been mentioned) does require a considerable amount of time in which one is exclusively involved in limud hatorah, regardless of whether it is before or after one earns a secular degree. Regarding your statement that you aren’t sure about the ten member kollel thing, well, if you’re going to quote the Rambam about splitting one’s day between learning and working, shouldn’t you also take his word that a city needs 10 batlanim?
ItcheSrulik, I do not believe, at all, that everyone has to be toraso umenaso. However, for one who wishes to become a true talmid chochom, I do not think there is another way than the one I’ve been saying.