'Gold' plated audio (or other) connectors from Amazon are often plated with semi-gold color metal alloy, presumably from China. Comparing it to real gold under natural light makes the difference more easily apparent. Filing off a little of the plating often reveals something that looks a lot like aluminum or else some kind of pot metal. Basically its cheap junk, naturally at lower cost than something like Neutrik acquired from Mouser.
You are correct; I am not an electrician. I have read the news of prohibition in new residential housing in the last 3 years of so as I recall, and have also been told this by electricians when I specify that I want only copper cables/wiring in a repair/renovation/new build (my new build was for a house and garage in 2020).
Even if I am incorrect (which I am happy to concede if true), I continue to believe that each person considering the use of using aluminum wire (or buying a house with aluminum wire) should consider the risks of: (i) obtaining insurance in the future (for as long as one own the house); (ii) obtaining insurance at a reasonable cost (think of the analogy of flood insurance and the rapidly rising premiums that are already very high); and (iii) whether the presence of aluminum wiring may act as an impediment or bar to a sale of one's house (i.e., exercise of a contingency or a request that the price be lowered to reflect the cost of installing new copper wire). While we are in a seller's market today, think back to recessions in the past 30 years when a buyers market prevailed. Each person should make their own risk assessment (i.e., YMMV).
Read that first sentence of PRR's post again. The one I quoted. Therein lies the key.
Hint: Feed
Why would you call that junk? Did the plating flake off when used as intended? Gold plating of audio connectors is only for corrosion resistance, not for some superior sound quality from less conductive metal than copper.