Dillinja,
"that my friend is real growth".
The fact that gold went $800 to now $1700 is not 'real growth', it's 'real speculation'.
Gold doesn't do anything, it sits there, unlike DJIA companies which actually produce and make things.
That's why, long term gold has, and always will be, a lousy punt.
If you can time it, fine, if you can't, poverty beckons if you're overexposed.