Gold is special. It's easier to carry than a barrel of oil, and stays fresher longer than a bunch of corn or wheat. That's why gold tends to get used as money over and over in history.

But you're right about one thing... inflation increases the value of real assets.

Or to put it better, the value of real things doesn't change (a loaf of bread is a loaf of bread) but the value of the dollar weakens in regards to it with inflation. Bringing us back to the beginning of the argument that inflation steals the purchasing power of people.

If I bought gold 20 years back I would have paid $300 for 1 toz. That same 1 toz of gold today costs me $1351. The gold hasn't changed. The US$'s purchasing power has.

[EDIT: I should mention that inflation isn't the sole reason it takes more money to buy gold than 20 years ago. There are of course some other factors.]