It's a different sort of focus than mainstream, where there's not what a "normal" person would call regulation. So lots of hyperfocus on topics that interest, and little on what others might think is required or needed (which would look like distraction if the person were forced/compelled to focus on things they're not interested in).
That's a good way to put it. Though ADHD can also have high focus and then "fuck it I don't care anymore I'm all about x now" lol. But I think you're right about the characterization of distraction. For example in my undergrad I might not do my physics homework but I'm not playing videogames or something I'd do things like trying to use that same physics to program simulations or try to solve other problems that were more interesting to me. Or used that time to teach myself programming, Linux, or other types of math that weren't being taught. It's both a distraction and not. But at first I was very confused at what you were suggesting.
