It's entirely possible that those skills are factors in decisions that aren't clear in the animations. For example:

If you play defensive with low pressing, GK might rely on throwing to move the ball a short distance to start the possession from the defensive line; attacking mentalities might rely on kicking to deliver the ball farther up-field. I don't discount those possibilities.

There are animations of the ball moving far from the GK (with altitude, so presumably a kick) and being picked up by opposition starting a fast counter.