My recollection is slightly different. I remember looking at results
from the highest level of checkers play and a player would win a match
by 1 game to 0 with 20 draws. However, that's an impression from
memory only -- I haven't been able to check it. Can you back up your
claim with hard stats? If the world no. 1 plays the world no. 2,
would they draw less than 95% of their games? (I doubt it.) I think
it's a pretty dead game at the highest level.

I could get exact stats from the American Checker Federation. I am
pretty sure though that, for instance world championship matches, are
something above 80% draws, if maybe not 95%, even with 3-move
restriction. Whether that means it's a "dead" game is a matter of
definition. Certainly at the NON-championship level, the percentage
of draws is very much lower (you can verify this by looking at on-line
play sites). High-level tournaments, when they achieve under 75%
draws, are considered "lively."

But my point was that, while computer analysis shows an absolute draw
for unrestricted play and very likely will show the same for 3-move
play, humans still win and lose. As you point out, it is at a
relatively low percentage, but still, the game continues to be played.