I've been re watching footage and it seems to be the case tho
These players were finishing their combos using EX DMs inside and outside of max mode over 95% of the time.
If it were true then that would mean that SNK doesn't want people doing DM>CDM combos in max mode.
It would also mean that they would be forcing you do use meter when you didn't have to (why force players to use an EX DM when a regular DM can KO an opponent just because they have extra meter?).
If it really is true then they have put a pretty interesting 'limitation' to meter usage, as per the aforementioned reasons.