My question pops-up from this question "Why does lightning strike from the ground-up" which I consider partially unanswered.
Why do I consider it partially unanswered?
Because only one answer tried to explain why the difference of the several to one paths occur in this phenomenon.
PS: there is another question that arises also Why does lightning strike from the ground up at this particular location in Earth and has it happened before (at the exact same location)?