What if the players are both much higher-rated than the arbiter?
Basically, once you've lost on time, you're giving up the right to any sort of agency, and thus the Elo doesn't matter. The rules are charitably giving you a rating of minus infinity and allow you to attempt salvaging half a point with that.
Comments
Well it can depend on Referee discretion, and the referee can evaluate whether a position is obviously a draw or not.
Something in high elo may obviously be a draw, like KRPPP vs KRPP, or KRN vs KR but not necessarily in lower elo.
What if the players are both much higher-rated than the arbiter?
Basically, once you've lost on time, you're giving up the right to any sort of agency, and thus the Elo doesn't matter. The rules are charitably giving you a rating of minus infinity and allow you to attempt salvaging half a point with that.