Penalties are categorically different from other goals, so they should be counted differently. They are, in terms of how they are taken and how they work, different from open play goals. So they should have their own category. That’s just good science.
If you want more justification, consider a team with 3 prolific goalscorers, but you have a designated penalty taker. Even though the other 2 could score them at a rate that’s quite good, they are marginally worse than the first, so he’s chosen. Now if you want to compare them for playstyle and goalscoring capability, the best comparison is to consider penalties on the side.
No why would you assume I think that?
Penalties are categorically different from other goals, so they should be counted differently. They are, in terms of how they are taken and how they work, different from open play goals. So they should have their own category. That’s just good science.
If you want more justification, consider a team with 3 prolific goalscorers, but you have a designated penalty taker. Even though the other 2 could score them at a rate that’s quite good, they are marginally worse than the first, so he’s chosen. Now if you want to compare them for playstyle and goalscoring capability, the best comparison is to consider penalties on the side.