How is this considered a puzzle?

I have been working on this for years (obviously first time posting) and have come to the conclusion that there is no puzzle to solve. I have used all the brute force tools and even rented servers to come one day away from finding the key for #130. It was painful to be that close.

While brute forcing, I assumed that there was a hidden puzzle to be solved. I tried to find a pattern in all aspects of the solved keys to no avail. I have even used AI and advanced mathematics to search for patterns to solve the "Puzzle".

It is not a puzzle if the solution is to count 1 by 1 or to guess the correct value. It is a race. Unless the solution is investing thousands of dollars on hardware. To use your wallet instead of your brain.

Convince me that this is a puzzle and not a race. (BTW: Figuring out how to make your race car faster doesn't turn the race into a puzzle, it is still a race.)