I've always considered hybrids (commuters, comfort bike, whatever they are called these days) to be a compromise of everything, and as such, not really good for anything. E.g., if you took one off-road, you'd be horribly disappointed due to the limitations of the bike. If I was going offroad 30% of the time, I wouldn't be looking for a bike that's only a 3-out-of-10 offroad. I'd rather get a mtb that can be quite decent offroad, and isn't challenged at all by cruising on a path.
If going 100% on a pathway/greenway, that's a different story, and a hybrid might be perfect.
Based on what you say, I'd go for a mtb and put less aggressive tyres on it, that are still capable off-road, but more suited to gravel paths. I'd also go for the hardtail. "Keep it simple". If you find yourself wanting more grip offroad, then you can get better tyres - much easier than getting another bike! If you find yourself on tarmac 100% of the time, you can get very urban-specific tyres and still be very happy.