Most players, ESPECIALLY in the lower Elos, have no idea how to judge the status of a game aside from kills.
In fact, if you recall, riot tried to make the kill count less noticeable several months back placing the counter right above the mini map in smaller text. The community complained and then they made it more visible and moved it to its more visible position.
Kills matter, but you must account for other factors. If you have a second account and try to level it up it is very noticeable that players over value kills and under value other measures that indicate the status of the two teams.
After an 0-3 start I constantly see players type FF or gg. This may also be due to the fact that most Bronze and Silver players have LITTLE to NO IDEA how to play from behind. I think in silver people begin to understand one can comeback after being down, but Bronze players generally have no clue.
Things to consider when trying to figure out the status of a game besides kills:
CS - typically if this is even the game is still close
Turret count
Dragons taken
Barons taken
Team composition - This is important because this is something players discount frequently. If your team composition is geared to late game team fights then laning phase is not going to look too good and deaths may occur. You will likely be behind in kills especially if they have a early game. Most players do not understand when different champions hit power spikes. I am gold and I probably only understand about half the champion's kits and when they hit power spikes. A classic example is when Shaco or Lee Sin has most of a team's kills. Those champions fall off very hard after about 20 minutes, but a lot of players do not understand that.
The levels of Champions - Level differential is a good indicator of team status. If the average level of the opposing team is 3 or more levels ahead it is probably time to call the game over, even if kills are even.
Vision - If a team doesn't ward they have no map control and this can lead to sneaking objectives, taking jungle camps, and picks
Whether opponents make repeated mistakes - Often when players get kills they begin to over extend and this results in picks.
Who has the kills - If only one person has kills then that player can be isolated in teamfights.
I am not saying that suggesting to surrender is bad per se, but that most players' personal judgment is poor. A vast majority of the community sits in lower Elo, so their ability to assess the status of a game is not great. Comebacks occur often when opponents get sloppy with their leads.
I think the biggest difference between Gold and Silver players is not mechanics, it is the ability to play from behind and capitalize on an opponent's mistakes. Platinum and higher players are really good at punishing mistakes and playing with leads.
I rarely suggest surrendering because I typically play late game scaling champions. Kill differential matters, but people place too much stock in it.
