Well, fortunately not everyone followed his advice, if that’s the case you and I would not be here today having this conversation.
And I think you take Paul out of context. Keep in mind that he was an older man at the time he wrote it who was expecting Jesus to return shortly. In his former life as a Sanhedrin, he was more than likely married.
But I want to keep on point: Which is more important. My reading of 1 Timothy 3:2 tells me quite clearly that Paul has no problem with married men serving in the clergy. And that is my basic point. Not wishing to go off in a million different tangents.