discussing how auto obscure displays on the map is a past and valid discussion topic on the forum, for instance, I had a thread about it a while ago here: https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/geoprivacy-obscuring-and-auto-obscure-discussion/457/39
I do think over time improvements in how the obscured locations are displayed would reduce this type of confusion, but you can read all about it if interested in that other thread…