@gallentjill I don’t think it’s a zero sum game, and don’t necessarily see a per se disadvantage to an applicant if another has an ‘advantage’. Said differently, in your example, one student can be advantaged and the other not disadvantaged (or penalized).
Some schools that say students won’t be penalized for not submitting subject test scores do consider them if sent in, as they are trying to put each app in the best possible light, so some students absolutely get an advantage. And I think the schools are being honest that the apps without the scores were not penalized.