Recently I was out using StreetComplete and it asked me for the surface of “the path”. I was very confused as this way was clearly signed as designated for bicycle and foot. Further investigation led to learning that this is how the JOSM preset work.
The preset “Dedicated cycleway” will make a highway=cycleway.
The preset “Dedicated footway” will make a highway=footway.
The presets “Combined foot- and cycleway” and “Segregated foot- and cycleway” will make a highway=path + foot=designated + bicycle=designated.
For me highway=cycleway and highway=footway just adds confusion, deprecating them would direct mappers and consumers towards handling highway=path together with other tags. But I might be ignorant of some important detail, and double checking my ignorance made me find the page on Duck tagging.