I hate to say it, but you'll probably get more useful advice here than from the "trainers" at your gym. You'll have to let us know exactly what your specific goals are.
In general, I would say that if there is a danger of "strethching your abdominal wall", which I take to mean injuring it, then you are using too much weight. As far as belts, imo they are far people who are trying to find their max lift or maybe are getting past an injury. If you need a belt in your training, then again, you are using too much weight. The very muscles the belt is assisting are the muscles you are supposed to be strenghening. So, my advice, forget the belt.
As far as rack pulls, I don't know why not to do regular dead lifts. A good exercise for the entire body, which won't necessarily give you bulging back muscles. Depends on the parameters you use.
I could be wrong, but I don't think the majority of trainees walk around with skin torn off their hands. I also don't think the majority wear gloves (not that there is anything wrong with it). If you get blisters it is because of the friction of your skin rubbing on the bar. If your grip is strong and secure then no blisters.
The answer is to work your forearms and strenghthen your grip and perhaps to use a weight you can hold onto. There is a time when it is sometimes necessary for an advanced weight trainer to use lifting straps, etc. when overall lifting ability has outstripped their grip. The muscles that govern gripping strength are very small compared to the back muscles, after all. I don't think, however, that that time is when first entering a weight training routine.
Work on holding on the the weight securely. You'll get callouses instead of blisters. This all goes into the classic mistake of starting too heavy.
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