My opinions on Switzerland's association with success:
1. Location, location, location. Mountains foster a community seperate and apart from the rest of Europe. Cooler temps at high elevation encourage industriousness and the country's neutral stance (made possible because of unique terrain) allows for a more stable economy.
By these standards Tibet should have the strongest economy, and what about other countries around the globe with tall mountains? On other hand England should be poor, and dominated by Scottland.
The higher town or village is situated the poorer it is. Unless it is a great tourist attraction in last 100 years.
2. Gun ownership-- active protection of national resources by capable and motivated population.
When was the last time they used their weapons? Besides they don't want to fight for anything harbouring neutral status for last hundred years.
It is more important to mention that they've enjoyed long stretch of peace without being ruined by wars. This helps a lot.
Their military spending per capita is one of lowest in Europe, therefore more money in peoples pockets or better social services.
3. Strong gold-backed currency. Needs no further explanation.
This doesn't matter. Keep printing money and you'll see huge inflation, regardless how much gold you keep in safe. It is not a sign of strong economy, well except the power to buy gold. Strong economy is production, production, production. Stop producing and you'll see effects like in Greece.
4. Conveniently you omitted their strong banking system (for centuries). It doesn't fit your understanding of strong economy. According to which Swiss people should be poor, because their bankers would be in possession of their money, stealing more every day, right?
5. Otherwise, culturally, Swiss are rather backward. They gave women rights to vote in 1971!!!