Speed limits also vary, cars and technology gets better and even minor things like weather can absolutely affect times. Sure, COVID changed the circumstances, but this is an highly unregulated race with very varying circumstances anyway.
That's true as well. Every competitor is making due with the set of circumstances they were given, so why should COVID be a unique circumstance? It's just another tactical decision, to do the run at that time.
Either way, I'm interested to see where it goes from here.