Path always up for progression until the group knows it well and out gears the content. At that point you can use it like a defensive cooldown for the raid as needed. Also based on healers skill. My old scob group I eventually dropped path entirely in T8 (pre nin, and war solo tank) and just kept eye up. Then we lost our whm. Our sch changed to whm and we got a very green new sch. After 1 try it was obvious the healers needed help so back to path full time even though it was old hat to everyone else months in. Just gotta read the situation. It's powerful damage mitigation. Just judge when you need it just like dropping defiance, or saving CDs when you know your healers got yo back.

The flexibility to adapt is the most fun thing about war to me and the lack if that adaptability is also the reason I don't like playing pld.