I think you're lumping all of us long termers in the same boat there timber - maybe I'm just reading too much into it though.
I don't feel I try to talk the price up, in fact I've had a read over my posts as far back as I could be bothered and can't see one where I have (that's not to say I have talked it down either though).
I also don't really fit into any of your reasons for being a long termer either.
Personally I just like to have part of my portfolio in a hard asset, something I have access to 24/7 that isn't part of the electronic system we have come to rely on so much (please note I also hold a fair bit of actual cash).
I'm sure you've seen the panic that spreads through most people when eftpos/ATM's go down for a short spell - most are left without a useable cent to their names - imagine if that lasted a few days or longer. That is a good reason to hold a physical asset that can easily be exchanged right there.
I do not hold LT to make money, I do not hold LT due to fear of a banking collapse. I hold merely because I find it comforting, and I hold only an amount the enables me to still sleep soundly upon 5% overnight "crashes". If gold went to $1000 tommorrow, I'd been fine with it (and still in profit mind you).
Spending years working in the telecommunications / electronics industry can make a person very pessimistic when it comes to the stablility of making electronic transactions as given.
