Hence who I used both HDI and median household income.

And even with GNI my argument still holds. I'm surprised how so many HNers don't remember how poor Ireland used to be until 20-30 years ago, especially given how most HNers are in their 30s to 40s.

Ireland, South Korea, and Israel are the poster children of developing countries that successfully escaping the middle income trap and climbing up the economic value chain back in the 2010s.