The idea I think is you use cotton gloves to keep oil off the tubes. I stopped doing this years ago because I preferred the grip you got by using bare hands. You can wipe the 'oils' off with a cotton cloth if it bothers you. Personally I don't think it makes any meaningful difference.
Can you touch the tubes?
I was talking to someone at the tube store about replacing some KT 150 tubes and he said it was perfectly fine to touch the tubes.
I've always thought you're supposed to handle these things very carefully with white gloves or a microfiber cloth.
Handling them with my fingers makes it easier to pull them out , insert them more securely.
Does it really matter if my fingerprints get on the glass or should I clean them off with a microfiber cloth after I touch them?