“one redeeming quality”
How bout they produce the only substances on earth which has proven itself as real money and protects people from the predations of governments.
Mining companies vary in management just as other companies do. If the gold price was on it’s way to $2000 everyone would be saying how clever the ceos are and how good they are to stockholders.
I will agree that a lot of co. officers are thieves, and I will say that a lot aren’t too.
Cheers