Wraps absolutely are a short cut in that every lifter can instantly lift more wearing them due to the elastic tension they're able to provide.

I don't think there is much evidence suggesting training squats wrapped would then result in the unwrapped squat being stronger for an elite lifter. I'd actually be concerned that the technical changes and also the different strength curve for a wrapped squat might throw off someone's regular squat.

A wrapped squat is still a squat. Do heavy knee wraps allow you to squat more? Absolutely. But other than the weight being higher, you squat basically the same with or without wraps. So training in wraps will absolutely help your raw squat -- it isn't like the wraps take away all muscle stimulus from the squat.

That being said, I think most lifters hold off on doing wraps until close to a competition or when hitting near max. Wraps are painful and take a lot of work to put on if doing them tight, so it isn't something you do on every squat. Also, I think people over-estimate how much extra weight one can lift with wraps versus without. It varies from one lifter to the next, but I think the average might be around 10%.

Source -- powerlifter of 10+ years who trains both regular and wrapped squats all the time.

All else being equal it's still potentially meaningful stimulus. There's no way it doesn't translate if you're training wrapped in a way that would stimulates hypertrophy or strength increase - it's an offset upwards, sure, but the muscles will still respond to the work.

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.

I'm having trouble googling for heel chick, could you share a link to what it is?

Sorry. Auto correct: heel chocks. Exactly what it sounds like. If you don’t have lifting shoes, and don’t like using coin plates, you can stand on other things that raise your heel.

Edit: Internet tells me they might be called squat wedges.

Blocks maybe