It is certainly that and is, indeed, the same as IBM or Frantic.com and its use is subject to similar risks, primarily as to whether the government continues to inflate, or as to whether you can judge the point at which the government will cease to inflate.
Very true. Gold mining is a dangerous investment because governments that issue fiat currency hate gold, and environmentalists hate mining. But when it's right, it's right as rain, such as in the depression.