But by that argument we are all dirt poor, provided humanity isn't wiped out, because future generations will have more technology than us. Which to me is kind of a worthless way to measure how wealthy anybody is.
It is if you compare yourself to other people living around you or at the same time. After all they are the ones your competing for a limited amount of resources with.
Comparing the wealth of people who lived hundreds of years ago in entirely different societies/economic systems is quite pointless, yes.
