I remember being forced to watch a Stihl update video in lieu of going to a school. The guys in the video were wearng thick gloves while they were servicing a carb. Was given a stern look by the dealership owner when I started laughing and joking.
I also had a customer that refused to touch a chain without putting on thick leather gloves, had to tease him a bit too!
Well, working chain with a file I know my knuckles are happier with some gloves on.
There was a day back when, and I had thick callouses from doing farm work, that barbed wire didn't bother me much. That was 40hrs week/$100
AND, I was was a US Citizen willing to do the work. I didn't sit in my basement with an ipod all summer