I learned to navigate primarily using cardinal directions, before handheld GPS was common. When I walk around a new city, I find it easier to look at google maps to figure out the cardinal direction I need to travel, as opposed to remembering a series of turns that are relative to each other.
That’s assuming the sun is out or a compass is available
Sure, I do too, but that's more a lay of the land thing for me. When I'm going to a specific place and I don't really care much about what's between me and it, I'll go "relative directions". I know ahead of time the ~direction I'm going, and the GPS is to tell me what's coming up, so I want it "ahead".
I guess the apps could be tweaked to do both; show cardinal direction, but put "here" near the edge of the screen that maximizes the distance forward. I suspect it's not because "here" is always on the same spot on your screen the way it is, which is a UX consideration as well.
That’s assuming the sun is out or a compass is available