Self-directed IRA vs. traditional custodian for silver bars - what am I missing?

• •Okay, so I've been doing a ton of research lately, especially revving up my silver allocation given current inflation fears and seeing gold climb.
• •I currently have my gold in a traditional IRA with a pretty standard custodian – everything's fine, no complaints.
• •My main hang-up is control, or lack thereof, with the traditional custodian route.

Okay, so I've been doing a ton of research lately, especially revving up my silver allocation given current inflation fears and seeing gold climb. I've got a decent chunk of my portfolio (north of $500k, probably closer to $750k if I'm being honest) in various assets, and I'm a physician here in Boston, so I appreciate a good, well-researched approach. I currently have my gold in a traditional IRA with a pretty standard custodian – everything's fine, no complaints. But looking at potentially adding some significant silver purchases, specifically bars from reputable mints, I’m wondering if a self-directed IRA is the way to go instead of just sticking with the traditional guys.

My main hang-up is control, or lack thereof, with the traditional custodian route. While they handle everything, I feel a bit removed from the actual physical assets. With a self-directed IRA, from what I understand, I get more say in the specific types of silver bars, storage options, and potentially even lower fees in the long run if I’m managing more of it myself. I’ve been digging into the rules around eligible silver, storage particulars, and making sure I don't accidentally run afoul of the IRS, which is obviously a huge concern. There's so much info out there, and frankly, some of it is conflicting.

For those of you with experience in either (or both!) – what are the real, tangible pros and cons you've faced? Are the supposedly "lower fees" of self-direction actually lower once you factor in all the extra work and potential third-party service costs? And on the flip side, for traditional custodians, are there any hidden fees or limitations on specific silver bar products that I might not be aware of? I've been using resources like the Learning Center at Gold IRA Blueprint to cover the basics, but I really want to hear from people who've actually gone through the process.

My biggest fear is making a mistake that could trigger a taxable event or incur unexpected penalties. I'm busy enough as it is, but the idea of more direct control over my hard assets is very appealing. Is the peace of mind with a traditional custodian worth the potential trade-off in flexibility and cost, especially for silver bars which can have different storage requirements than, say, gold coins? Any insights on custodians specifically handling large silver bar holdings would be incredibly helpful.