What do > and < mean in the context of an infinite 2D plane?

Typically, the order of complex numbers is done by projecting C onto R, i.e. by taking the absolute value.

Yes I’m aware. It’s a work around but doesn’t give you a sensible ordering the way most people expect, i.e:

-2 > 1 (in C)

Which is why I prefer to leave <,> undefined in C and just take the magnitude if I want to compare complex numbers.

One is above the plane and the other is below it. ;)