The scene is where Rand is traveling to/from Far Madding in tGS. Rand does not know the location well, so he opens a gateway a short distance, which allows him to learn the location of the new gateway and then from there he can open a gateway directly to where he wants to go.

Now here is the important part that has me thinking. Nynaeve comments to herself (she would never admit it out loud to anyone) that she never would have thought of doing that.

So, I've been asking myself a question for the past couple of days: What was the point of showing us Rand's gateways and making us privy to Nynaeve's thoughts?

I can only think of four reasons. First, it could have been meant to show how cunning and intelligent Rand is. Or, second, it was meant to show us Nynaeve's lack of smart thinking (at least compared to Rand). Or, third, it was meant to show us a new military tactic that might be used in the future. Apparently now an army can travel via gateway without skimming using Rand's technique. Or fourth, possibly a combination of the above reasons.

Why include those passages unless there was a point. What do you all think was the point?