Considering how gold doesn't tarnish, this was probably one of its great selling points. You can store it, and it will survive leaks, fire, whatever. Bitcoin does feel like paper by comparison considering that it isn't the metal that we need to worry about, but the information on it that can become illegible or more concerningly be lifted. Being virtual makes bitcoin keys super magical, it can teleport, exist in many places at once, expire (with taproot), or disappear. This is super powerful but also super unintuitive as a piece of property. Just one of the many reasons people find it so intimidating.