DY: No arguement here regarding the value of a Talmid Chacham. However realize that the reason why Klei Kodesh get paid less is due to good old fashioned Supply (very high) and demand (medium-low). For Kollel Bochrim however, supply is high, but demand is in the clouds. As such, they get “paid” more, in the form of support, and they can “ask” for more, due to relative lack of supply (which is why Kollel in many cases live better than Rabbeim).
P.S. It would be nice for all of us working folk to be Klei Kodesh as well. Someone has to actually pay tuition.