I'd also choose being middle-class today, but there are several complicating factors. 1) Loss aversion. I know that I like modern conveniences and would hate t

I'd also choose being middle-class today, but there are several complicating factors. 1) Loss aversion. I know that I like modern conveniences and would hate to lose them. Psychologically, we place greater weight on losing something than getting something. Maybe I'd be dumb not to give up my microwave burritos for fresh roasted grouse, but the burritos are comfortingly familiar. 2) I'm just guessing about fresh roasted grouse. What ARE the nice features of being a millionaire 100 years ago? I'm probably ignorant about most of them. Maybe people back then would pity me for not experiencing what they did. 3) I'm a bad estimator of what will make me happy. Sure, I like the internet. Does it make me happier, or does it just scratch weird psychological itches? People WANT to play Farmville, but does it make them happy? Maybe I'd be happier having 10 close friends in my neighborhood and no telephone than having 200 friends on Facebook. The one thing that's hard to dispute is that illness was more likely and more painful in the past. Other than that, whether then or now is better is something I'm unable to judge well. And I suspect the same is true for most people.