It’s almost as if many front doors are decorative or not intended for receiving guests?

Bingo. I shovel a path to mine in case of fire or if anyone ever needs to get a gurney inside because I'm old and live alone. But I have a sign asking people to go to the kitchen door because I get all discombobulated if someone misinterprets the open path as some kind of invitation to knock at the front.

I grew up in the County where the front yard is the handiest place to push all the snow from the driveway if you live in town. Front door was always blocked for by a mountain of snow for 6 months a year.