Home Storage vs. Depository for Gold IRA - What's your play?

• •Alright, so I’ve been kicking around this question for a while now, and frankly, I'm finding myself a bit torn.
• •My metals are currently stashed securely at Delaware Depository, and frankly, I’ve never had a single issue.
• •I spent decades in the Navy, where protocol was everything, so the thought of anything less than bulletproof compliance frankly gives me a headache.

Alright, so I’ve been kicking around this question for a while now, and frankly, I'm finding myself a bit torn. When I first diversified into a Gold IRA a few years back – it was around 2019, I think, just before things got really interesting – my immediate thought was always a third-party depository. It seemed like the most straightforward, compliant route, especially coming from a background where regulations and established protocols are paramount. My metals are currently stashed securely at Delaware Depository, and frankly, I’ve never had a single issue. Peace of mind is a big factor for me, especially now that my portfolio is pushing well past the seven-figure mark, and a good chunk of that is in precious metals.

However, lately, with all the economic uncertainty and frankly, a bit of general unease I’m seeing globally, the idea of having my physical gold closer to home has started to appeal more and more. I’ve read up on the "home storage" option for a Gold IRA, and while it definitely has its allure – the immediate access, the feeling of direct control – it also raises a lot of red flags from a compliance and potential audit perspective. I spent decades in the Navy, where protocol was everything, so the thought of anything less than bulletproof compliance frankly gives me a headache. And I’m certainly not trying to run afoul of the IRS, especially not after diligently building my retirement nest egg for decades here in Virginia Beach.

I find myself weighing the perceived security and direct access of home storage against the established, IRS-approved compliance and professional security of a depository. Are the risks of home storage really as high as they seem when you dig into the details? Or is it a viable option if everything is meticulously documented and insured? I've been poring over resources, including the Learning Center, which is a fantastic resource for drilling down into these specifics, but I’d really appreciate some real-world input. What have others here decided, and more importantly, why? Have any of you successfully gone the home storage route for your Gold IRA, and if so, what were the major hoops you had to jump through?