Sam2: I think there is a difference between the Rambam and someone today in that the Rambam didn’t have the benefit of the gedolei Rishonim and Achronim to hash it out for him. For him it didn’t need to be an ikkur, but for us , disbelief in gilgulim represents a lack of belief in the Torah of the previous generations.
In the same vein, Rava would not have held as he did either had he the “benefit of the gedolei Rishonim and Achronim to hash it out for him”. Rav Chaim whould have showed him right about Yeush, no?
Neither would have Hillel, Rebbe or Rebbi Akiva. Maybe David HaMelech was on the level that he could have won over the “gedolei Rishonim and Achronim” after “hash(ing) it out for him”.
Afar L’Pumi