The value of gold is not intrinsic - it is assigned by people, just like fiat currency (which is also why gold-backed currency, or the lack thereof, is not our problem). In fact, gold's value also fluctuates with the economy, just like everything else - when the economy tanks, gold prices rise, etc etc. It's almost expected for people to run screaming back to gold every time the economy hiccups, and this has made it an unsafe commodity to hold.
Not to mention when you buy gold - you are not buying any actual, physical gold, you are buying gold production, which will never ever reach your hands. If you really want to hoard precious metals, at least go out and physically have it. Your gold is just as imaginary as fiat money until you have it in your hands.
I don't know where you got the idea that I was recommending a non-physical holding of gold or silver, but it is a good point to address: all COMEX contracts state that in the event of default (non-delivery) they can just give you USD, which of course is exactly what you don't want.
And if you want to keep it, store it in Switzerland.
The US Dollar is in the early stages of collapse; it will be severely devalued, perhaps down to being worth 50 or 60 Yen or more.
This is not being political, it is not Bush's or Obama's fault, but the result of an entire generation or more of mistakes, which started back in 1913 with the creation of the Federal Reserve and accelerated in 1933 under FDR and then again in 1971 when Nixon closed the gold window.