Ratios are probably more appropriate. Let’s say we use $100,000 as a reference point. Is a millionaire closer to $100k or to a billion? Subtracting says $100k, and taking ratios also says $100k, because $1M/$100k = 10 < 1000 = $1B/$1M. That’s fine, as we agree that excluding people who’ve just paid off a house isn’t the move. Repeating with $100M, subtracting says $100k, but ratios say $1B, as $1B/$100M = 10 < 1000 = $100M/$100k. So ratios align those folks roughly appropriately.
Of course, just using different math can’t undo all the problems stemming from using net worth as a class proxy.
Ratios are probably more appropriate. Let’s say we use $100,000 as a reference point. Is a millionaire closer to $100k or to a billion? Subtracting says $100k, and taking ratios also says $100k, because $1M/$100k = 10 < 1000 = $1B/$1M. That’s fine, as we agree that excluding people who’ve just paid off a house isn’t the move. Repeating with $100M, subtracting says $100k, but ratios say $1B, as $1B/$100M = 10 < 1000 = $100M/$100k. So ratios align those folks roughly appropriately.
Of course, just using different math can’t undo all the problems stemming from using net worth as a class proxy.