I went to the Apple store to check it out today.
In the past I've had black phones (3G/4/4S), silver (6 Plus/7Plus) and a silver X.
Gold phones were never my thing, although the smaller iPhone 7 looks quite nice in both gold shades.
After checking out the gold Max in the flesh, I'm 99% sold on getting it in gold.
I have to say, I do think the back looks quite pink, but not as pink as the 8/8 Plus.
What sold me was putting it to a black Apple silicone case - the black and gold looks very nice together.
I'm not a fan of Apple's Space Grey for the 8 and X - with the glass back it just looks clunky.
The silver with the white back is very classy although on the Max that big white area looks a bit overkill.
I think Apple's best black colors were the iPhone 7 jet black and matt black - but I guess that is not possible with glass backs? Although the XR in black looks to be more like a jet black?