The article is really talking about equity, rather than ownership. The point is, do you have some preferential claim to be paid a stated amount, or do you have

The article is really talking about equity, rather than ownership. The point is, do you have some preferential claim to be paid a stated amount, or do you have residual rights to the value of an asset. In that sense, buying an "interest" in gold, whatever form that may entail, is closer to "ownership" than debt. Just like if you have a 5% equity stake in a company you can't actually take delivery of 5% of its assets. (Fun fact, you likely don't even "own" the shares themselves.)