This comment reminds me of discussion when weed gets legalized in the states.

There's always people going, "psh, this won't make weed any more accessible, it's already so easy to get, anybody can do it!"

And yet, nevertheless, inevitably there are people who try it only because it's now legal and openly sold in stores. A lot of people simply don't want to do things they consider shady, no matter how easy it is. Maybe it being legalized doesn't make it any more accessible to you, but you aren't everyone.

I see where you are coming from but not quite.

What I am saying is that the process is already legal and available, so the process isn't a barrier to melting and selling the gold. I don't take a position on whether someone would simply not do it because its illegal.

The process of growing and selling weed was illegal, and thus also a barrier to accessing weed.

If anything your line of reasoning makes me want to legalise and protect melting gold you find and selling it.