In fact I don't find it gimmicky at all.
Chelsea are still in the same problem in this match with still having difficulties in finishing and even in this match Chelsea's goal was also due to an own goal from a Trippier.
But indeed this result is slightly better than them just losing so of course it's better to draw in this case.
Chelsea have had a tough season this season so they really have to remember that they are now arguably at their lowest point which makes them have to pay more attention to their condition and try to do better next season.
I tried to watch some games with Chelsea, or at least look at match reviews, and I can say that Chelsea didn't play badly, but they almost always had huge problems in attack, they just couldn't score a goal. In the match with Newcastle, nothing has changed, they may have looked even better than Newcastle, but still they could not score a single goal, given how much the team spent on buying new players, the result of these investments can be said to be very weak.
In terms of ball possession, they are not bad, especially in possession of the field, but in other conditions, their finishing is very problematic and cannot be explained until now, not to mention the defense line which is sometimes out of sync with each other, which makes it even more complicated for them.
Things like this happened even from the start of the actual season and seeing from their condition this season 38 matches and only 38 goals were scored indirectly, this ratio is only 1 goal in 1 game and that doesn't suit the Chelsea club which incidentally is a big club.
Liverpool closed the 2022/2023 season in 5th place and they failed to break into the top 4 this season. But I appreciate their hard performance in the second half of the season because Liverpool this season they once were ranked 12th in the standings but they were able to improve their performance in the second half of the season.
Liverpool just woke up too late but they at least made great pressure on Manchester United and Newcastle United. They contributed to make Premier League more exciting in final weeks when Arsenal fell down against Manchester City and gave up. If Premier League last like 4 more matches, maybe Liverpool will succeed to join top four but this condition won't happen.
Liverpool have been awake before but the inconsistency has returned and towards the end of the season they were on fire again but as you said it was too late to make them competitive because despite the previous threats to Manchester United and Newcastle it hasn't really had much of an impact with the number of games going up out and of course it's too late for that.
But at least there will be a Europa League next season although I don't really expect that for them because they have been regulars in the Champions League for a long time.
Interesting now for the EPL because now the 3 EPL clubs for the Champions League are different from before as Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham have to be replaced with Arsenal, Newcastle and Manchester United.