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I think there is a difference between the ideal and reality.
I officiate in the S.F. Bay Area. For any of you who are familiar with this area there are more high schools here than in many states. Most of the schools are underfunded and facilities are poor to say the least.
Dressing areas vary, but there are very few I would take a shower in, let alone leave my gear in. Last night girls varsity game in one of the finer gyms in the northern California. Officials dressing room filthy, toilet plugged and broken. Very disgusting. I know when I used to coach I would greet the officials , make sure they were taken care of, and would let them into the office at halftime and after the game prior to even letting my team into their room.
That courtesy is missing in most schools now.
I prefer to go to a game in street/work clothes which for me is usually a shirt, tie, slacks or a nice polo shirt, but changing facilites are so poor and rarly is there anyone to greet you, have water for halftime etc.
I can count on one hand the schools that actually make some preparation for officials and address their needs. I also prefer to shower at the site, but many of the showers in the coaches locker rooms look like they haven't been cleaned in years.
I am often called in an emergency to pick up a 3:45, or 4:00 freshman game and have to rush from work. With so many schools and games it is sometimes a scramble to get them all covered. If I don't change at work I would not have the time to get to the site and changed and also stretch. The freeways at commute time are terrible here.
Of course if you come to the site and change you are assuming that the teenager coaching the freshman team has a clue about the needs of the officials or even a key to the locker room.
So, through experience I know which schools I can dress at and which I can't. I do agree, I think it looks very proffesional when I come into a gym with a sport coat, slack and tie or even a suit. I wish it were possible all the time. It is not.
I am not the lone wolf in this. Most of the officials in my area come dressed or partially dressed. Would I prefer not to? Of course. Now when officials are actually considered part of the game rather than a fringe and the facilities are at least usuable I may be able to change at the the site a majority of the time. I still won't for those early games.
And, oh, yes, I forgot about changing facilities for our female officials. That's a new discussion in itself.
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