What makes some of you think that gloves will protect your hands' mobility? They're not armour, a well placed calous would seem better protection than what is essentially clothing.
It's not about mobility. I guess you've never picked rocks out of your palms, or tore off flaps of skin and had to wait for them to heal before you ride your bike again. Clothing does help protect, which is why I also have sleeves on my shirts. Here's a good story you may have missed…
I crashed this summer without gloves going not that fast (had taken them off to adjust my helmet strap, then the group took off, I stuffed them into my pocket and tried to catch up, had an idiot brain fart and just didn't make a corner…). Drove a small rock deep into my palm and aside from the general scrapeage pulled a flap of skin/muscle back. Required 6 "meat stitches" below the surface, 9 surface stitches. Couldn't hold a handlebar for 6 weeks, let alone actually ride anything beyond a gravel path. I couldn't type with that hand for 2 weeks, which in my job is a bit of a problem.. It's now, what, 6 months later and the area is still sensitive. And of course the doctor made it very clear to me that it was a freakin' miracle I didn't cut a tendon or nerve bundle, and my pulverized palm was pretty much the best possible outcome…
Take away your ability to use your hands and you're pretty much useless for anything. So yeah, I wear my gloves. :|
I'd say riding style and chance are the bigger factors.
Hahahahaha. Reminds me of the kid who just finished asking why all us old guys wear knee pads, and if we're too girly to take a skinned knee. 2 minutes later he had a shattered knee cap with bits and pieces spilling out all over the place. Gloves are a very unrestricting item of gear. Even though they might not protect you from a broken finger, I know 100% for sure over the last 15 years of riding that they have saved me from a lot of pain, cuts and scabs on a part of my body I least want them.