I wear gloves every time I ride, except when I ride with my young children to the park. I wear fingerless gloves when it's warm and mechanic's gloves from hardware stores when it's not too hot for full-finger gloves.
If I fall, I might not hit my head (although I wear a helmet, too), but I KNOW I'm going to land on my hands, one way or another. Putting your hands out when you fall is one of those involuntary things, like breathing, isn't it?
I'm also a guitar player, so I'm used to keeping my hands out of harm's way, when I can.