Your average human is level 0, and has 1d8 hit dice. Most people have 4 or 5 hp, with 8 being a tough guy, and 1 being an invalid. A level 20 sorc would have 20d4, 50 on average <-- that is amazingly tough.
As far as them spending less time studying compared to a wizard and thus having more time for other skills; in pnp sorcs get proficiency in a few weapons that wizards do not get, such as spear, mace and javelin.
If you want to think of them as hospitallers that's a fine comparison as well. Dispite being healers, this is how they dressed.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_nouprOuzjX...ospitaller.jpg They were a military order, just as much as the templars were.