It sounds as if it's a non-fed tower. There's a lot of factors that
determine if a tower gets a radar display. First of all, if they don't have
a terminal radar in the area, they will never have a display in the tower.
If the only radar in the area goes back to the center, it can't be used for
the tower. Center and terminal radars are two different animals. Some
terminal radars are piped into the center for coverage, and it is possible
to pipe the center radar back to a TRACON, but this is done only as a backup
to the terminal radar.

Most VFR tower controllers recognize most of the aircraft based on the field
if they've been there any length of time.

It is a non-federal tower.

What they told me was the radar existed and was currently operating,
the tower was wired appropriately, and they only lacked a display.
They also told me getting a display was a bright line rule. 29,999
movements meant no display, and 30,001 movements meant they got a
display.

I admit they could be oversimplifying for the pilot.