Why not just use smiley faces? When I want ketchup I don't point at a mustard bottle.
The gold piece symbol has some attached intrinsic value to some people and seeing them all over the forums when gold isn't being rewarded for a good or original thought, a pithy rejoinder, or to celebrate the completion of a successful trade*, is disappointing to me.
-wtk
*The aforementioned reasons are not hard-and-fast rules regarding when giving gold is acceptable, just a few examples.