I've trained in a few "raw" gym...no frills, no chrome, no radios blasting, few if any mirrors.........just basic iron and wood stuff. One of these places was a converted three car garage, which you entered from an alley, training there during high school.. Plus no heating or air condition. Some of the best workouts of my life have been in such places. Even worked out at a outside gym for awhile.
If your hardcore than it's not so much where you train, but how you train. A simple BB & DB can give minor miracles, where used with serious intent..and of course knowing what your doing..Add a chinning bar and dipping bar is like icing on a cake. Some small gyms have home made power rack/cages and regular squat racks made of wood, not that uncommon. And if your a welder & fitter, so much the better, could make just about anything.
Far as the Mag's go, their just trying to sell you something, most of the stuff you really don't need. All about the big bucks, relying on how stupid some people are and will believe, and buy, just about anything.. All those articles, supposed written by the Pro's, may actually be ghost written by only a half a dozen of guys in the industry. Who also write for any other BB'ing/fitness mag, for a paycheck. I've known a couple in the past.
Lifters and BB'ers, with experience, will usually get on the dark net/web for any of those helpful training boosters...nothing that the mag's run ad's for. Try Tor browser if ever wanting to explore the web sites off limits to most.
Good Luck..