I mostly don't bother with gloves. Long rec rides I'll ride gloves, but commuting I wear full-finger gloves (road-found work gloves) only when it's cold, otherwise nothing. The only exception is sometimes I run in the gym at work and then ride home, I'm so sweaty I wear gloves because otherwise the bars get really slick.
But generally I get plenty of padding just from my bartape, because I have an old innertube as a base layer.