Gold items, are they worth it?

Not as worth it as shooting straight and not getting hit.

That's what I've come to as a conclusion.  A gold body shield is even questionable nowadays with red EVO everywhere, and more common than gold.  Abilities don't make the game so the faster charge is eh, okay.  1 more shield bar is way better.  I'll still wear gold armor but only over purple.  

Gold knockdown shield is arguably still the best gold item, though you nearly never get to use it anymore before you are wiped.

After that, certain all the way through gold weapons are great.  Gold sniper rifle sights worth it too now that snipers are good. Gold turbochargers...cause they're turbochargers :P

Everything else is fine, but I wouldn't lose my mind over it.  Barrel stabilizers, helmets, backpacks...purple is okay, even if obviously gold is better.  It's not that exciting to get a gold item so much.