The gold standard was once seen in the same terms- a necessary check on government power. It was supported by economic theory, moral principle, and countless examples of currency disasters in the absence of the gold standard. But eventually we got rid of the gold standard and very few economists want it back.

Even a system as old and battle-proven as trial by jury is not necessarily the best possible system today. Personally, I think it is still a good system, but that questioning it is still worthwhile.