[sonofhans]

You’re not correct. Inspection time for a 3x3 solve allows you to plan the early moves, but no farther. It is possible to solve the entire cube in your head (i.e., blindfold solving), but not in 10 seconds. Progress through a solve goes in several stages, depending on your method. Each stage may require several sub-stages.

E.g., for the CFOP method the second stage is pairing middle edge pieces with bottom corner pieces, and putting them in place. There are 4 of these middle edge pieces, so that stage has 4 steps. Each step may require from zero to ~8 moves.

Speed solvers typically scan the cube for the next step, and then while their fingers execute the moves they scan the cube, looking to setup the next step. Sometimes this allows them to anticipate the next _next_ step.

[nsilvestri]

The fastest blindfold solvers in the world have their memorization under 10s. It encodes all the information they need to solve the cube, so arguably they are able to solve the entire cube in their head in under 10s. Execution takes longer, though, because blindfold methods at that level are still less efficient than traditional methods. However, one of the best BLD solvers, Jack Cai, has used blind solving during a normal 3x3 event, by doing his memorization during inspection (inspection time is included in the total time for the actual blindfold event). Then, with a blindfold on, executes the solve. He had a sub-12s average, IIRC.