What I am saying is that amateur lifters should make the most use of the equipment available to them at the gym. I am not saying that training at a gym will prepare you to take on any athletic task. But if you do go to a gym to train to get big and strong, don’t just focus on the Big 3 because you think you are a powerlifter, and don’t just do gay stretch and squeeze bullshit with light weights because you think you are a bodybuilder. Make use of the equipment available to you and you will optimize your time at the gym, getting a good physique assuming your diet is on point, and getting as strong as you’re going to get.
The bench press is a fine exercise. It’s the most common test of upper body strength and is a powerlifting lift, so there is no good reason not to do it if you lift weights. Just make sure you are doing dumbbell work and overhead pressing as well.