To be fair, they're primed to write code, even when you don't ask for it. I explicitly tell Claude "do not write code" when I don't want any, otherwise it'll spit some out just to say hello (world).
Claude has a mode specifically for what you're talking about, it is actually very good (Opus 4.5) at planning and going through design without coding, it's called planning mode.
Listen, if you aren't constantly shift-tab or esc-esc during complex problems, and then struggling when it isn't working for you, rtfm, you'll get further and better results.