The writer in me says yes, stylistically, it would make sense if Gold never finds Bae. The scene in thr forest between August and Gold can’t be repeated; you can take an audience into that well only once, because the emotions are so deep and intense. For the real Bae to show up and for the writers to try to recreate those emotions in the audience, it would only be an echo. So deep down, I can agree with the Bae is gone theory. Gold got to have the forgiveness he needed ; we got the chance to experience that with him, and maybe someday Gold will thank August for trying to con him.
But the fangirl in me can’t handle a Bae loss. Not after Charlie and Jin and Sayid and Sun and Locke and Jack and…