The cutter cuts as it goes, defining the rate of inward spiral, usually varying this with loudness.
The replay arm has to follow the variations in the radius and change in radial rate *without* applying more than a tiny force to the groove. If it applies more than a tiny amount, it will 'cut a new groove' rather than follow the one already on the disc.
Thus 'linear tracking' systems for replay have to operate with a *very* delicate sensitivity to following the existing groove. Whereas the cutter simply ploughs where it decides over a blank start surface.
Linear tracking has been done for replay. But it isn't easy (read cheap and unfussy).