Gold would be more realisticly useful if you could spread it out on objects. For example, you could put a glod leaf on any surface to put a shiny yellow layer like snow on top, instead of using a gold block. You could also place it on walls and ceilings, maybe even domes! Gold leaf might be used as a dye too, making wool shiny. This would make gold a bit cooler.
Enjoy hammering a giant block of gold into the excessive thinness needed for gold leaf.
Incompetence is a plague. I am the cure.
For all your wolf suggestion needs, I present the WOLF MEGATHREAD!
Stories: A Miner's Chronicle, The Lost Chronicle [Entries 32-2, 33-1, and 33-2 out!]