Please make "transform path" vs "transform selection" a preference

@GarethLind 

As a workaround, an Action or script can overcome this issue. All it needs to do is deselect the active path and transform.

My preference is a script, as you can replace the standard keyboard shortcut for transform with the script (Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts).

if (app.documents.length) {
    if (hasSelection() === true) {
        deselectPathThenTransform()
    } else {
        alert("There is no selection active to transform!")
    }
} else {
    alert('A document must be open to use this script!');
}


function deselectPathThenTransform() {
    try {
        // Deselect active path
        var iddeselect = stringIDToTypeID("deselect");
        var desc1512 = new ActionDescriptor();
        var idnull = stringIDToTypeID("null");
        var ref695 = new ActionReference();
        var idpath = stringIDToTypeID("path");
        var idordinal = stringIDToTypeID("ordinal");
        var idtargetEnum = stringIDToTypeID("targetEnum");
        ref695.putEnumerated(idpath, idordinal, idtargetEnum);
        desc1512.putReference(idnull, ref695);
        executeAction(iddeselect, desc1512, DialogModes.NO);
        // Interactive free transform
        var idselect = stringIDToTypeID("select");
        var desc1537 = new ActionDescriptor();
        var idnull = stringIDToTypeID("null");
        var ref713 = new ActionReference();
        var idmenuItemClass = stringIDToTypeID("menuItemClass");
        var idmenuItemType = stringIDToTypeID("menuItemType");
        var idfreeTransform = stringIDToTypeID("freeTransform");
        ref713.putEnumerated(idmenuItemClass, idmenuItemType, idfreeTransform);
        desc1537.putReference(idnull, ref713);
        executeAction(idselect, desc1537, DialogModes.ALL);
    } catch (error) {}
}

function hasSelection() {
    /* 
    check for selection - c.pfaffenbichler
    */
    var ref10 = new ActionReference();
    ref10.putProperty(stringIDToTypeID("property"), stringIDToTypeID("selection"));
    ref10.putEnumerated(charIDToTypeID("Dcmn"), charIDToTypeID("Ordn"), charIDToTypeID("Trgt"));
    var docDesc = executeActionGet(ref10);
    return docDesc.hasKey(stringIDToTypeID("selection"));
}

1. Copy the code text to the clipboard
2. Open a new blank file in a plain-text editor (not in a word processor)
3. Paste the code in
4. Save the text file as .txt
5. Rename the file extension from .txt to .jsx
6. Install the .jsx file (see below):

https://prepression.blogspot.com/2017/11/downloading-and-installing-adobe-scripts.html#Photoshop