Anyone else find themselves constantly weighing Self-Directed vs. Traditional custodians for their Gold IRA?

• •My main appeal for a self-directed structure is the increased control, obviously.
• •I like the idea of picking my own depository, understanding the specific processes, and generally having a more hands-on approach.
• •I've spent enough time in the Bay Area seeing folks get burned by hands-off investment strategies, and I'm just wired to question everything now.

Okay, so I’m really trying to dial in this Gold IRA setup, and the more I dig, the more I feel like I'm going down a rabbit hole with the custodian choice. I've got a decent chunk I'm looking to move in – probably starting with around $300k, maybe more depending on how the market shifts over the next 6-12 months. Coming from tech and traditionally having everything buttoned up with the big names, the whole self-directed IRA concept for physical metals is both exciting and a little… unnerving.

My main appeal for a self-directed structure is the increased control, obviously. I like the idea of picking my own depository, understanding the specific processes, and generally having a more hands-on approach. I've spent enough time in the Bay Area seeing folks get burned by hands-off investment strategies, and I'm just wired to question everything now. But then there's that nagging voice asking if I'm creating unnecessary complexity. With a traditional custodian, it feels more plug-and-play, less I-need-to-be-an-expert-in-everything. Is that just a trade-off for convenience, or are there genuine risks I'm overlooking with the more "managed" heavy-hitters?

For those of you who've gone down this road, especially with significant amounts, did you lean self-directed or traditional? What were the absolute deciding factors for you? I'm trying to figure out if the perceived benefits of self-direction (like potentially better fee structures or just more transparency) actually pan out in practice, or if it winds up being more of a headache in terms of compliance, reporting, and just general administrative lift. Any nightmare stories or absolute wins would be hugely appreciated before I pull the trigger here. Thanks!