The point about possible race dynamic changes is correct - just suppose a change with 10km to go, the race flying. With a quick change and 40 seconds lost, it's just about possible to get back with 2-3km to go. Alter that to a minute and it won't happen unless a bottle is sticky enough (or even "do a Nibali") to court a DQ. It may be the same for everyone, and the same everyone will show the same mercy as today when the race is "on" - zero. Commissaires in major races (not your local race when decisions can be variable!), I found are generally relaxed until 60-90 minutes to go about tailgating, but jump all over holding on to cars, and DQ every time they catch someone. Inside the last hour+ it all gets a bit tighter as that's when it counts. Thus the same for everybody is true, and races may be lost when they may not have been.
Counting on UCI to change rules - which ones and why?