Yeah, that happens frequently with pro’s 
It’s not a bad sign, it just depends on what kind of guy he is - my piercer usually takes a lot of time with me, we chat a bit about whatever happened since my last visit, about new piercing-plans for me or whatever, and I can seriously sit there for almost an hour, if he’s got the time. In the same amount of time, my bodmod-artist would have made four piercings, I guess… (but he takes his time for bodymods, too - never felt rushed or anything there )
The armrest is usually just wrapped in plastic (or desinfected and wrapped in plastic afterwards), and that’s totally fine. I just get nervous when I see people a) taking stuff out of sterile pouches, touching them directly or b) putting (former) sterile stuff on non-sterile surfaces or c) not changing the gloves directly before modding me (or, like a cosmetician I visit, wearing gloves and frequently touching the smartphone with them… 
)