articles are to sell product for the advertisers. Anyone with a charge card can order up the latest camshaft, but they can't just order up Joe's super body and paint job. Joe doesn't advertise in the magazine so they don't rant about his work.
Years ago a good friend drag raced a 67 bb nova. He was at a race in Boise Idaho and Super Chevy magazine was there. they took number of pics of his car for a feature and handed him a spec sheet to fill out telling about the car. they told him just put down what ever you want, it doesn't matter, don't tell your secrets. he tossed the sheet and his car wasn't featured. I assume the other mags are no different. If the owner only says joe painted the car then that is what they print..
Really no different than going to a local weekend car show. If a guy has a sign telling about the car it will usually say paint by joe. It may say candy apple red by joe, but wont say 3 coats of epoxy, 5 coats of poly primer, 4 coats of base color, 20 coats of clear, 200 sheets of sand paper, 1 qt of buffing compound, etc. I have no idea what a person pays to have one of those sign boards made, but I assume the more it says the more it costs so brief descriptions are the norm?