Last game I got to throw the gnome across a river, twice, so that he could tie down a rope to help others across. That was a fun use for a gnome.
If that isn't an opportunity to apply the falling damage rules, I don't know what is.
GOLIATH Player: Can I just throw the gnome across the river while he holds one end of a rope and another party member holds the other end?
DM: Of course. I'm a yes-and, rule-of-cool DM and that sounds awesome. But given that the gnome, even after dropping all of his gear is still considered a heavy non-weapon object, you'll need to make a strength (athletics) check.
GOLIATH and GNOME players: YAY! We do it!
GOLIATH: [rolls dice] WOHOO! I rolled a 20, with my +5 bonus to athletics that's a 25!
DM: Okay, with
that roll, I'll say you can throw him 20 feet, even with a bit of an arc that's enough to get him across the rapids to the solid, rocky shore on the other side.
GNOME: And awaaaaay I go!
DM: [rolls dice], the gnome slams into the rocks on the opposite shore taking 19 hit points of damage. So...how many hit points did your character have when he was thrown?
GNOME: 6
(sound of crickets chirping)