I guess you could say I got into trading (which, I don't really trade, I'm just sitting on some silver I got as a gift until it rises higher in value) when my dad decided to give me a good amount of silver as a gift. He is a heavy silver trader, and enjoys it a lot, but I think the commodities market is simply too unstable for me to get my foot in. My dad has found some success, but at the same time, he has also lost money along the way. I think that is true for every kind of investment, though. You win some, you lose some.
I'm drawn to the commodities trade (mostly to gold, silver, and other precious metals) because of their real value. I find it easier to visualize what I am doing when I am dealing with something tangible. That said, I have yet to invest in gold or silver (unless you consider purchasing coins as part of the commodities market), but plan to in the near future.
I would love to find any gold and silver and hold it for maybe a decade. I have never bought gold because I could not afford it. I think that the only leverage in selling commodities would be if you do strike it big. Other than that I could not see myself buying in.
That I can agree on if it is gold then it is safe. Gold seems to have some sort of value but I am not sure how much in the stock market. So as far as I can tell it is safe to invest cash for it.