the total distance to get "off" the ground is not reduced by the soft field or short field takeoff methods
Surely "soft-field" is a separate category?
On a "soft" surface with unusually high rolling friction, your top priority is getting some weight off the wheels to reduce that rolling friction (and maybe protect a nosewheel), and drag from the tail is a nicer problem to have, because at least you
did get off the ground.