I don't know what country you are from and what the gold market is like there. But as far as I know, most countries in the world, from rural to urban areas...always have hundreds, thousands of gold shops legally licensed by the government. Buying and selling physical gold has never been as difficult and complicated as you and the OP describe.

Like I come from a rural area, and if I remember correctly there are 8 or 9 stores in my area that deal in gold or make gold and silver jewelry...and the transactions are almost instant. Even people in their 80s or 90s can easily sell gold without a phone or internet.

Physical gold is not as liquid as gold in the stock or forex, but still large enough that even if you want to sell millions of dollars of gold.