Are you really sure the added benefits of Gold compared to Silver are worth spending over £500 and wasting a weekend flying to places you don't actually want to go to?
While I know that to some people here £500 isn't too much to throw away (I could certainly think of better things to do with it) and I personally value my free time at a premium.
Totally agree. Has the world gone mad - well at least the OPs gone mad. The benefits of gold over silver are limited, and effectively you're paying £500 (and a lost weekend) for a a few more air miles and access to the GF lounge (which I have to say in T5 is not much better than the CW one).
I do feel it's more about acheiving some sort of kudos, which in reality doesn't exist. For most travellers, in reality, it means you've been away from your family too many times (and for too long) during the year.
Yes, I like my gold card - but I wouldn't spend a penny of my own money or a second of my own time, if it was required to renew it.