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"Well, then for the same reason as buying gold, you might as well by used bricks, gravel, copper, cords of wood, rubber bands, or whatever."

"professional' is oblivious. Gold is unlike anything else. You hold a gold coin in your hand and you feel a little zing. For thousands of years other people have felt this same zing. Gold ain't top of the heap for nothing

I'd love to own $50,000 worth of oil futures or pork bellies or copper. But gold is quite a bit different except to the oblivious. Not in denial, just totally oblivious to gold down through human history

Yep, gold and silver are just the same as gravel and bricks, only more compact. They have no other inherent value.

That's probably why FDR banned the private possession of gravel and bricks in 1933.

“I, as President do declare that the national emergency still exists; that the continued private hoarding of gravel and bricks by subjects of the United States poses a grave threat to peace, equal justice, and well-being of the United States; and that appropriate measures must be taken immediately to protect the interest of our people. Therefore, pursuant to the above authority, I hereby proclaim that such gravel and brick holdings are prohibited, and that all such coin, bullion or other possessions of gravel and bricks be tendered within fourteen days to agents of the Government of the United States for compensation at the official price, in the legal tender of the Government. All safe deposit boxes in banks or financial institutions have been sealed pending action in the due course of the law. All sales or purchases or movements of such gravel and bricks within the borders of the Untied States and its territories, and all foreign exchange transactions or movements of such rocks across the border are hereby prohibited...” - Proclamation by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, April 5, 1933

OTOH, unbacked paper fiat currency has a 6,000 year history of always holding its value. That's why French Assignats and German Weimar d-marks are worth so much today.

I’m oblivious for not getting the “zing”? With all due respect, doesn’t your explanation make my point? Gold is just an object. Yes, it is pretty, and also makes people kind of crazy.

An ounce of gold generally just maintains purchasing power.

But hey, I’ll admit, that for a portion of someone’s entire net worth, that is necessary/or one way of doing it?