In my personal opinion, I find it to be completely pointless - not only does it consume unnecessary bandwidth, but it lacks a genuine purpose. Typically, the only individuals who use it are those who have just discovered the W3 validator tool; however, they tend to abandon it after some time. Those who decide to keep it displayed on their websites often neglect addressing validation errors for years, resulting in a high number of errors visible when clicking on the icon.
What sets the Gold and Blue logos apart?
The distinction lies in their colors: one is blue, while the other is gold. Despite this, the provided reference fails to highlight any significant disparities, leading me to believe that the sole difference is the color variation.
Why has W3C chosen to offer these logos?
Primarily, these logos serve as a means for novice developers to showcase their adherence to standards and provide them with something visually appealing to display on their web pages.