(Note that e.g. Wei Dai also thought it was obviously true that faster econ growth exponents had a negative-sign effect on FAI, though, like me, this debate made him question (but not yet reject) the 'obvious' conclusion.)

I'm confused by the logic of this sentence (in particular how the 'though' and 'like me' fit together). Are you saying that you and Wei both at first accepted that faster econ growth meant less chance of FAI, but then were both caused to doubt this conclusion by the fact that others debated the claim?