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I bet you'd lift more if you had a trainer or someone else pushing you on.
You can't read Rippetoe while lifting nor can you examine key body parts while you're at your limit (sometimes not at all, depending on mirrors, position of rack, etc).
Anyway, the evidence from studies suggests you will be stronger with a coach or training partner/group. That doesn't make it a rule but it makes sense to me.
hippy-
I’m not arguing but I am happy with my own company when I lift - I have a cage etc in my garage. To me, it is personal preference. The cage is vital for safety.
Also you can video yourself to check form. Mark Rippetoe’s book has around 80 pages on squatting and covers just about an issue you can think of.
Each to their own.
TGR
Your query is difficult to answer. When you begin Stronglifts, you lift an empty bar (20kg) on the first session. The next session the weight increases by 2.5kg - 22.5kg total. The weights increase by 2.5kg each day. There is nothing to stop you starting at 100kg on day one - if you so wish and are capable.
As mentioned earlier, If you fail at a weight three times, the app drops the weight by 10% and you keep going as before - in 2.5kg increments. This will slow progression but, ultimately, you will lift heavier weights. (it worked for me)
So the query about timescale depends on the amount of time you are able to put into it. Ideally, you should have a rest day after each session. The last time I de-loaded to 20kg, I worked every day to bring the weight up quicker - this is not the best idea but it worked for me. Once I found the weight heavy, I was able to build in rest days.
The coaching/trainer point is not really for me to answer, as I have never had one. I do think that, TO ME, it would make little difference to the weight I was lifting - I am happy lifting alone and unwatched - I don't need an audience. I can definitely understand that there are some people who need someone there for encouragement.
I would consider a coach/trainer to do a form check for me if I was struggling with form - if I progress from last night up to over 100kg squats - this is a very likely option.
There is a lot of good info on-line and in books - written or demonstrated by good coaches eg
Mark Rippetoe
Mike Matthews
Greg Nuckols
Mark Lauren (bodyweight exercises)
Having read a lot of their information, it is all very similar with slight variation. Mark Rippetoe is brilliant for advice on performing the lifts (Starting Strength - book and app).
Mike Matthews provides great info on all aspects of body building - Muscle For Life - website.
Greg Nuckols (very similar to Mark Rippetoe) provides in depth analysis on lifting.
I'm not sure if it has been mentioned previously, but Stronglifts is a strength building programme and not a body building one. That is important for anyone considering it. I would presume that it could be used with an appropriate meal plan to assist bodybuilding but, from what I have read, there are other (and possibly better bodybuilding options).