Gold is a portable entity which can be used for payment. Has been this way for a long time. Other commodities are either perishable or bulky or only localized circulation value. Besides, one may not be stay around in one place. Especially if the social order breaks down. While on the move, you cannot bring all you stuffs with you. You need means of payment along the way.
Of course, you are free to avoid gold by all means. There will be still many takers if banking institutions collapse or inflation is going out of control.
It is not about high return ultimately. It is about keeping your purchasing power and making it portable.
I have a feeling the most valuable portble entity in the pathetic future ahead will be MRE’s or some derivitive thereof. If only they were affordable in bulk.