Why does the Braisah say that it is only a Chacham (and not a regular person) who eats excessively that he destroys his house, widows his wife etc, this should also apply to a regular person who eats excessively accordingly to rashis explanation because even a regular person would also need to travel to earn income to support his habit. Thanks.
L. B., Brooklyn, NY
It seems that the Gemara wants to emphasize the many problematic aspects of a Talmid Chacham who obtains this bad habit. Some of these, as you noted, could be applied to a regular person as well. Others, such as forgetting his learning, he is no longer listened to, he causes a Chilul Hash-m, are unique to a Talmid Chacham. The Beraisa presumably understood that people would apply each warning whenever applicable.
All the best,
Yaakov Montrose