Right. So 2000 was an all-time-high for US equities and a 20y-time-low for Gold. You can get whatever number you want if you do it that way!
Not to mention that the index doesn’t account for dividends and your pet rock doesn’t pay you any rent for living in your house!
Sure - buy gold (actually buy silver rn). I have and will. But don’t kid yourself. It’s useful either as ballast or it’s a “bigger sucker” trade.