I’ve heard complaints like this since I started playing chess nearly 50 years ago. No matter what measures have been tried in the past to prevent short draws they’ve ultimately failed because as long as a draw is a legitimate result in chess you can’t stop players from playing one if that’s what they want.

It is not unusual for high rated players to accept short draws in the last round to insure their prize money. Normally player’s ratings are much closer and if they had both been rated 2440 it wouldn’t have raised an eyebrow. This case is unusual due to the rating of the players involved but if the 2440 was guaranteed first place with a draw his claim is plausible. The 1792 can plausibly claim that with his rating he’d be more than happy to accept a draw against somebody nearly 650 points above him.

Bottom line is there is a long precedent for players accepting short last round draws and you can’t prove collusion. Even if you could I doubt anything would be done because it could set a precedent the other way which would put top players in an uproar. They’ve long claimed that if they want a draw there’s nothing to stop them from drawing be it in 5 moves or 30 moves.

As for the $25 I can understand that because if they didn’t have such a procedure I can imagine the USCF being inundated with frivolous claims. I understand your frustration at being placed in an unfortunate situation as many other players before you have but that’s the way it’s always been and, fair or not, I wouldn’t look for things to change. I’d forget about it and spend the $25 on something else.