The only way to prove that prefixes don't work is to find a search method where, if you apply the same logic with prefixes, it actually makes things worse. Otherwise, it's doing something right.
Just replace in any prefix-method script the prefix "puzzle" with any prefix, even a random One. And you will see that absolutely nothing changes, you can try it yourself.
If the prefix-method really does work, why does it perform the same way with any prefix instead of the puzzle prefix?
What you're talking about was already brought up here
random.randint(0, 5000) == 0:
, and it doesn't give the same results.
...
Let's just drop it, like I said, not my battle.
Try 4095 Instead of 5000. I already explained this a few posts ago. Same results
Maybe generating an hash and looking at the first 3 hex digits (12 bits) is basically the same as generating a random number between 1 and 4096?
Maybe Is all rigged