Because I dont think people who put on gravel or xterra races give one iota for "drafting" issues. It's just an entirely different world when you go off road. That even if there is "drafting" it's not really to the degree that can happen in a road triathlon and it's just not that big of a deal.

So if you want to change the format, by all means change the format, but I just dont see the need or the issues that will happen with "drafting" in gravel or xterra races. It's why I kinda think most people are viewing "draft legal" with a very road bias basis when they think of "draft legal" triathlons and then apply that to off-road. I just don't think it's a big deal, thus using the phrase "draft legal" is technically correct but I dont think people in off-road go around using that as a tactic if that makes sense.

ETA: Like at some point "draft legal" is the basic of basic rules, it basically means there are no rules. There's no riding position violations, no slotting in, no time check to pass, it's simply go ride your damn bike and that's very much the "free spirit" that off road racing is all about.

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Brooks Doughtie, M.S.
Exercise Physiology
-USAT Level II