The following is but a general statement and not necessarily directed toward any of the many good informative posters on this Forum nor of the same well intentioned informative posters on any other Forum.

Why would anyone ever want to buy gold?
Gold is among the most Illiquid of all commodities!
Once physical gold is held it is very difficult to dispose.
Yes! gold has a natural intrinsic value and is somewhat rear as a commodity. Thus, its relative value in comparison to other commodities. This is a good thing for the Minerals Exploration Industry.
To suggest it is a form of money in Modern Civilization is nothing more than disingenuous. It does not act like money and if it did its value would decrease in relative terms as more is mined.
It is not a currency and does not act like a currency. If it did it would be used as a currency. Governments who may still have stores of gold are not selling it into the market and when they do it is to satisfy shortfalls in normal demand. In doing so they are helping support the mining industry .
To expect people to hoard physical gold is nothing more than a ploy by primitive minded individuals to scare uninformed everyday people into helping Gold Bug types unload their stash onto a hoped for unsuspecting public. Small time gold bugs from the 1980's know exactly how difficult it actually is to sell their foolishly acquired gold during the 1980 Run Up in its price. Current day big time Gold Bug types are uncivilized fear mongers attempting to instil fear into the minds of vulnerable easily swayed people only to satisfy their personal primitive uncivilized anti-social GREED.
Just as diamonds help support Mineral Exploration so does gold. Large diamonds of good quality have a very high intrinsic value. Diamonds of small size and lower quality are an ever increasing commodity of value in many modern Industrial applications. This is good not only for diamonds and diamond exploration but also good for Minerals Exploration in general. Why? Because the funds raised to conduct diamond exploration often results in the discovery of other important types of mineralization and consequently new mineral deposits. This in turn allows for much better exploration cost recovery. As is the case for diamonds, so also is the case for gold.

The new discovery of very significant mineralization in the "Ring of Fire" is is a prime example of this.

As for the fear mongering being conducted by these primitive "Gold Bugs" types and their Anti-Civilization GREED orientation, is it NOT time to have done with them. By their narrow minded, self-centered uneducated ranting they are doing ALL well intentioned Minerals Exploration Industry Investors a great disservice and causing much too much unnecessary suspicion and loathing by prospective Minerals Exploration Industry Investors. Consequently they are placing undue hindrance on the real worth and integrity of every one involved in the Minerals Exploration Industry, both current investors and current explorers.
Gold Bugs, please! go else where to spread your unnecessary and nonsensical fear mongering, ignorance, and vultureizing predatory GREED!
Old Joe