Yes I get you don't have to choose a deity to be a paladin in 5e but this is one of the issues were the rules as written do not really reflect how alot people play. Neither I nor anyone I have ever played with have viewed the Path as more important of deity. It is always we choose the deity then pick a path that best represents them and if there is a issue between path and deity code the deity code supersedes the issue. I mean the whole idea of paladins is inherently religious and while giving those who would like to "secularize" them is great hindering those of us who view our paladins faith in their god as essential to their character sucks and takes me out of the game.
I have the opposite experience. I've been playing 5e since it was D&D Next and in that entire time neither I, nor anyone I've played with, has wanted to choose a deity for their Paladin. It has always been about embodying the Oath.
I found it to be a nice differentiation from Clerics. Instead of being beholden to a certain god, who are flawed, you were beholden to an ideal.
