This is usually a problem when you have a lot of classes and races, so some end up getting much better than others.
This is usually a problem when a designer doesn't want or can't put in the work to round out these edges. I'm not saying that 100% balance between different classes or playstyles is possible, BUT you can put in the work and design them to be about the same level of viability without making one of the options the obvious clear winner.
Another problem quite different from the one I wrote occurs when the developer wants to reward one path more than the other. This is more of a bias. Like the bias toward Lawwful Good of Pathfinder Kingmaker.
Yes, and pigeonholing your players into one specific playstyle isn't a good thing and should be avoided at all cost by providing viable alternative playstyles.
