The crypto community has a few strategies similar to this. Gitcoin and the Bounties Network come to mind, though neither is set up exactly like this. A smart contract could solve the most difficult payment problems pretty easily.
All the commodities mentioned in the article have had active futures markets for decades. A farmer will typically sell contracts to deliver their crop as a hedge against the price moving against them during the season. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Futures_contract
I mean, you don't "spring it" on the user at the end. You say something like "try full features now for free! If you build something you like keep it for low low price of....."
I heard a funny story once about an interaction between Tim Berners-Lee and Ryan Shea. Woulda been about 4 years ago and I can see how it might have prompted TBL to take a crack at the same problem. Maybe you're right?
I think OP was stating that they aren't measurable in the real economy, not that we can't construct situations in/mechanisms by which they can be observed.
Thus making tokens out them meant said tokens would last generations, and withstand the rigors of international transport.
As best i recall, gold and silver were rarely popular for domestic trade. There more common materials were used. They were instead used for international trade.
In the end people have come to confuse the token, a way to do trade accounting without an accountant always present, with the metal it was made of.
