The 3.5 trickster/bard version of the gnome is the way I always envisioned them, even back in my 2e days. The Eberron treatment of gnomes, is just awesome. I like the gnome as a race.
But what Dragonlance did to the gnome is unforgivable, and entire race of absent-minded professors and mad-scientists; it has tainted how many see gnomes in DnD. And to make matters worse the shoehorn this type of gnome into Forgotten Realms, gaaa.
Enough with my rant. I like gnomes. Are they my favorite race, no, but they are a nice balanced race.