Why does playcount increase for tracks not played on master?

This is odd behavior that I don't understand why it works that way. Please enlighten me if there is a good reason for this.

My setup is as follows

• Windows 11 Latest updates (05.10.2025)
• Rekordbox 7 Latest updates (05.10.2025)
• DDJ-FLX4
• Crossfader 100% on deck 2
• Deck 1 and 2 volume faders at 0%
• Trim set to 50% on both decks
• Rekordbox is set to count track as played after 60 seconds

I load in a track on Deck 1, and create a 1 bar loop. I play the loop without playing it to Master. I'm only listening through the cue on headset.
At 60 seconds, the track play count is increased to 1 from 0, even though I never played the track to Master. All I did was loop it.

This seems like unintended behavior. 
What if I am playing a song, then looping one muted in preparation to mix it in, but I decide to go for a different song instead. But since it's now been looped on mute for more than 60 seconds, it's counted as played, and added to play history.

This messes up my workflow, as later in the show I might want to come back to it, but it's shown as played (marked green) and play count has gone up. So I might think I just forgot that I played it.

Or in my case, where I play through every single song 1 time to listen to where it's best to place cue points and loops. And then I have a smart playlist that shows me songs I've never played, but they don't show up, as the preparing counts as a play for some reason.

Why is this the way rekordbox works? Is this intended behavior? Is this wanted behavior? If so, why? And how can I create a workflow where I don't have to go and manually reset play count for every single track, and delete them from play history?
What if I want to rework the cue points later. Now the play count gets artificially inflated. I can no longer trust play count as what has been popular songs in my sets.

PS: I had to use Microsoft Edge to be able to log in and post this post, as other browsers just had me in a loop on the login page whenever I click "Start new conversation", even though I was already logged in. Deleting cookies or using incognito mode did not work in my preferred browser (Vivaldi)