I totally get that point, but also it can be used to make for do or die situations like what we saw here where the match was thrown into the last period, immediately adding even more pressure to the match

Yes and no. Believe me, I know what you're saying. I still have, somewhere in my VHS collection, the 2001 world championship team epee event that brought this on. But calling it non-combative only if the fencers are at long distance is subjective. Telling the ref to move the bout along if no touche is scored is something hard and fast that the ref can't get called on. Besides that, these epee bouts are getting really, really boring. No one wants to commit to an attack, or 2nd intention. They all want the other guy to commit. Even the parry riposte is boring. Funny that I have to look back at the Good Ole' Days of just 10 years ago to see epee fencing that I like.

Peter S. The rule has changed. Red cards can be handed for non combativity.

it was made for you to ATTACK

Nikishin gave up. No *point* trying to catch up a three points in one second