The inputs for numbers, e.g. in the "Recent changes" tab are different for Special:Preferences vs. Special:GlobalPreferences: On Special:Preferences they use normal inputs, on Special:GlobalPreferences they use number inputs with plus and minus buttons.
I don't think there is a reason to do so, so for consistency both special pages should use the same type of input.
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In my opinion Global Preferences has it right here using the NumberInputWidget, which incidentally seems to prevent T102128: Decimal step on NumberInputWidget results in cumulative binary rounding error that is currently effecting Special:Preferences.