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Let's not get hung up on the Timer piece.

What I want to discuss is good ways to trigger end-game so that a game doesn;t goon forever and ever and ever.

The clock is discussed a lot because of how controversial it is, particularly on if anybody got it right or not.

The easiest simplest and best solution in what you ask is the fixed games turn, no matter how "unfluffy" it may be, it gives the
necessary tools for the game designer to contain the game and design balanced scenarios and pace the game avoiding slow game pits that can ruin the experience.

Doom clock is another suggestion, to avoid confusion here, doom clock is a mechanic were you have a few steps before loosing doing some things moves clock one or more steps towards 0 hour and other more difficult things move it backward, so the player must balance their actions in order to get most of their turns without loosing.