So to summarize: If they had actually run out of fuel, it would have been obvious on the panel and on the FDR?
Re the setting of the thrust levers: I was harassed by the FAA over a plane in a field with the fuel valves turned off. I mentioned a few times that is part of the emergency landing checklist for that airplane, got the guy to sound the 1/2 full tanks, and he went away. Would this have been intentional by the pilots on "short final" to the road?