soft forks do not need to result in a chain split
hard forks do not need to result in a chain split

soft involves just pool agreements to change something, thats just a network upgrade with one chain
hard involves nodes agreeing to change something, thats just a network upgrade with one chain

again
soft forks do not need to result in a chain split
hard forks do not need to result in a chain split

when some pools disagree and decide to intentionally ignore/ban/reject blocks/communication and the opposition continues. thats a chain split
when some nodes disagree and decide to intentionally ignore/ban/reject blocks/communication and the opposition continues. thats a chain split

soft can intentionally cause a split
hard can intentionally cause a split

and again
soft forks do not need to result in a chain split
hard forks do not need to result in a chain split

by thinking all "hard" actions = split.. and all "soft" actions = utopia.. that is taking softs best case scenario and hards worse case scenario. and avoid talking about the opposite