Is it supposed to make it so that you can only attach, claim, and merge outposts and territories with gold instead of either/or? I was under the assumption by the flavor text that the former was the case. If that's not the case then what the heck do I use influence on besides claiming wonders? 

+1 on this.  I just wasted 400 influence on this civic thinking it'd give me the option to use money instead of influence, not that it would force me to use money instead of influence. I'd like to see this tool tip clarified.

I'd like to add my own +1 to this.

The civic would be better if it allowed the player to choose between claiming with influence or gold. Maybe make the civic have the option to choose currency for that claim.

If the devs want the civic to remain as it is then the wording doesn't really reflect what the civic does adequately. I just brought the subject up on discord and I was not the only one to think the wording could be better.

The civic says "allows to claim, attach and merge territories with money instead of influence."

That doesn't say only money. Should probably say something like "changes the cost to claim, attach or merge territories to gold instead of influence". 

+1

i would also like the option.

Having said that, it's much, much easier to get money than influence, so it's now become a no brainer for me. I can get several cities with 10+ attachments by medieval era if I'm doing a merchant run. Then the only thing you have to spend influence on is civics and wonders.

There are more ways to spend influence.

If you buy outposts with gold then with influence you can buy resources collectors and ports on them before they're attached to a city (and it's instant, no delay).

+1, there should be an option to use gold or influence.