They're not worse. Are you comparing HQ rose gold to NQ hardsilver?

Rose Gold gives 39 GP if NQ, 45 GP if HQ. Hardsilver gives 43 GP if NQ, 49 GP if HQ. That's not taking into account the overmelding as you said, since you can add 9 GP, 6 Perception and 6 Gathering to the hardsilver and only 8/4/4 to the rose gold.