Really? Like what?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold#Applications

Gold seems not to be the best choice of materials for very many things.

It's valued because it's pretty and rare. That's basically it.

Holding it physically is an anachronism. Most people who own gold don't put it in a vault in their basement.

That computer that you're using most likely has some gold in it.

Computer does not need tons of gold. Tons of gold are working as a decentralized ledger of wealth, just like Bitcoin. They are being stored in vaults, not used in producing things. Computers and other things are getting a small fraction of all gold.

I see your point. We are comparing a specific sequence of bits to a physical earthly material. Not really the same thing.