I agree that some patterns do not give good directions, and often have amateurish drawings. Not enough detail on drawings and instructions like "sew A to B, sew B to C", etc.
Books are a better buy. Magazines I will buy if there is more than one thing that I'm interested in.
Magazines seem to be too dependent on panels and other pre-printed designs rather than piecing. I don't consider it a "quilt pattern" if they show a panel with 1 or 2 borders on it.