Most new riders eventually graduate from wobbling around local roads to riding harder in the twisties, and eventually on to trackdays. Short cuff gloves are fine for the occasional trip to grab a backpack of groceries or hang out at the mall, but when you really want to rock out, full length leather gloves are a must. Aside from offering a sensation akin to a medieval knight preparing for battle, full length gloves offer greater protection during a high speed spill.
They also typically offer more safety features than their short cuff counterparts. Shorty gloves can get dislodged during a big crash and leave unprotected hands ready to "get broke, fool."
Full length gloves, on the other hand, offer additional features like knuckle protectors made of everything from carbon fiber to titanium, additional straps for the wrist and extra crash resistant materials in areas of high impact. These extra safety features come into play during a high speed slide-commonly found on a race track. They can vary in price and features, costing anwywhere from a handful of bills to a couple of Benjamins.
While not everyone can afford the pinnacle of hand protection, there are plenty of great gloves at reasonable costs, and even inexpensive gloves offer protection. Different gloves serve different levels of protection, but after strapping on a new pair just about any of them will have you in Mclove with your gloves.