On the spotter thing, the arguments against updating the equipment usually go three ways -
1) Few of the gym owners that run these meets want to put out the money to update the equipment. They're quiet about it, but you always wind up hearing something to the effect of "Oh, no. That means I've got to spent an extra $xxxx.xx on a new federation approved bench, etc.... Then I've got to train the guys to run it? Nope, the racks we bought two decades ago are fine".
2) Adjustment time for new equipment. I've never seen anyone run the numbers, but the argument is that using racks, etc.... would take much more time because you'd have to adjust it for each new lifter, and that in turn, would lead to judging burn out, etc.... when meets are running near a full day as-is.
3) Pictures, judging, etc.... - They argue that having more safety equipment just makes pictures worse, causes the judges to miss things, etc.... They also argue that the danger element should always be there, as it is a traditional part of the sport. You'll hear this last one especially when there's talk about the "walk out" portion of the squat.
