Question: is this a problem that pull --path after clone --path does not work.

Probably user will want additional pulls.

pijul init p1
cd p1/
mkdir a
mkdir b

cd a
touch a
pijul add a
pijul rec -am.

cd ..
cd b
touch b
pijul add b
pijul rec -am.

cd ..
cd ..
pijul clone --path b p1 p1b # works
Repository created at /root/p1b
Downloading changes  [==================================================] 2/2 [00:00:00]
Applying changes     [==================================================] 2/2 [00:00:00]
Downloading changes  [==================================================] 2/2 [00:00:00]
Completing changes... done!

cd p1b/
pijul remote
  VRB7VN7LMN7AJVWQBUGFOW6Y5A: p1
pijul pull --path a # nothing

Please comment and close.

push --path push everything you want.