Why do Cyclist wear padded gloves.

I have always worn padded track mitts when out cycling. It also appears that practically all pro and racing cyclists do the same. Now I wear mitts mainly because they usually help to prevent nasty cuts, scrapes and surface damage to my palms if I unfortunately take a spill. Obviously they also keep my hands warm too on cold days. They also offer some relief from road vibration, though my bar tape does this anyway so gloves are not really necessary for this purpose. Past experiences tell me that wearing gloves when out cycling greatly reduce the risk of injury to my hands. What are your views ? ?