"Man, if the guys who started these things had in mind, among other things, a siphoning off of cash away from the mining shares, they sure got what they wished for. And then some."

And away from actual metal. That is one of the sad things. At any rate, I will remain skeptial about these bets onthe direction of gold and silver.

I don't doubt that the intent was not something other than honest brokerage for gold held in a vault to represent shares purchased. The only one I'll own is CEF.

If you really want gold or silver, give cash (fiat) take physical and don't look back.