You know I agree with you 100% here on dogmatic (faith and morals) issues and even matters of discipline. Took me a number of years to understand, but I'm there, by the grace of God.
However, reading the GIRM on what constitutes proper make up of the chalice... it's all over the place. I know what I would use (precious metal) and why, but it seems that when all is said and done, precious metal is a strong suggestion in the GIRM and not liturgical law. Way too "all over the place" - just like Tabernacle placement.
Drives me nuts.
It's certainly maddening - but remember that the GIRM is designed to apply to a mission church in Africa's interior as well as a parish church in a wealthy American suburb.
As I hinted above, in America such things shouldn't even be an issue: every parish in America can afford a chalice lined with gold.
In an African mission, the rumor of a gold-lined chalice might encourage an act of greedy violence against a priest.
Common sense should be applied in using the GIRM - leeway afforded to the unfortunate and oppressed shouldn't be twisted into a political weapon by lazy liberal priests in America.