I think it's more that you now rely on a piece of equipment to do your workout. Say you're on holiday, you can't just hop into a random gym and get your leg workout done. You'd have to bring your squat shoes with you.
No, I'll just do the workout without those shoes. Which will be less effective because less stimulus is being presented, but still worth doing.
I'll just be on holiday.
Or that! TBH that's what I usually do
These tools are training aids and you can still squat without them.
If you don't have them you just don't use them. You don't have to squat large percentages every session.