This was also when we had the knowledge of our Great Sages, that we so often lament the loss of. Of course not everyone should study everything. We are a community. Some of us must specialize in halacha and some of us must specialize in kabbalah. We are all required to be shomer mitzvot, but we each have our own special mitzvot.
Traditional study provides the vessel for Jewish survival.
That is why it has and must come first. But traditional study is obviously not enough - exactly because we have lost knowledge that our Great Sages of the past had. In my opinion, it does not belong in association with our unlimited Torah. Yes, Elad, you and many yeshiva students don't feel stifled by your curriculum and are happy to limit your learning to accepting from your rebbi what he received from his rebbi, etc. If not that your submission was posted on a major forum I would not respond.