You stated - If anything, the industrial uses for silver seem to be on the increase. Solar panel construction is the prime example.
Yes agree heaps more uses for Silver nowdays. However like platinum as used in catalytic converters, Palladium can also be used as a platinum alternative when Platinum went past $USD 2000.00 a few years back. So manufactures will look for some other alternative, you can only pass on certain cost increases, before people start bulking at prices fora finnished product.
Though Be Happy to see Silver go to $300 - $500, this will make most Silver stocks Fly. It quite possible as per Jim Dines forecast,(and he has a knack of predicting metals markets movements over the 30 years he has been an analyst). He called Uraniums boom all those years ago, and Uranium turn will come again. You should consider buying the physical Silver as it is cheeeeeeeeeeeep at $USD 30 an Ounce, though storage may be an issue
AYN Price at posting:
6.4¢ Sentiment: LT Buy Disclosure: Held