Created attachment 291063 [details]
Open path created on a pixel map with inteligent scissors

In the beginning GIMP only knew about selections, not about paths. So the idea was that every path will eventually be converted to a selection, I guess.
At some later time GIMP got the ability to follow (draw) a path with some drawing tool.

The intelligent scissors can follow contours to create a closed path eventually, but I cannot create a path unless that is closed.

If the magic scissors could create an open path also, you could do new interesting things like tracing roads on a pixel map (see attachment). I want to highlight a path of roads on a pixel map with GIMP, and I found the easiest way would be using the magic scissors. (Using the magic wand to select all roads by color, and then draw with a pen inside that selection seems more time consuming).