Abelleh, the reason why few people were in kollel in Europe is because they had very limited financial resources there — not because anybody thought that is wrong to increase the number of learners. Had they had the money, more people qwould have learnt.
Gemora in Kesubos 106A is mefurash that there used to be tons of people learning in times of Chazal, just as there are today in Lakewood.
There are numerous sources that there is a mitsva to support learning. Gemora in Kesuvos 111B is mefurash that one does not merit the techias ha’meisim unless one is a Talmid Chocham or has seriously assisted one. Chofets Chaim writes in “Ahavas Chesed” that the ma’aser from one’s earnings should go mostly to support learners.