No, no gold intraday. Imo, crude has more liquidity, is more directional, and is less spiky (I'm not talking about the etf GLD vs USO; I'm talking futures).
Still, crude does not have near the liquidity of ES. It is difficult to fill more than 5-10 CL at a time without slippage (a little slippage here and there adds up, in the long run). Hence, I cannot see myself trading CL all that much longer.
You are right is does not work. It is not about causing max pain.
Ask the big writers of puts about the 131- 133 strike last month. The got underlying put to them but with premium adjustment their basis was 128 -131. What has the s&P not closed under since last option expiration ?