So the fact that I'm a newbie make me unfit to have an opinion that differs from yours...?

I've played the game! Where possible I verified the find of others so to checked their conclusions.
I've backtracked often enough to check the current leads and the trail we were following was logical
with regards to the solved puzzles and hints and the way forward.

The only conclusion I can make (as newbie... so it doesn't count) is that this puzzle was not self sustaining, and needed too many
hint from the OP to keep the momentum going, but the solution as provided by gatekeeper has more merit than
the alternative solution you keep promoting. That one has more holes than Swiss cheese.... and less pony's....