A passing thought: is it w'mags like mags for women or womags, like mags full of woe? In my head it's the latter, but I've only seen it written down and wondered.
I've always read it as mags full of woe. Although I never made the connection with the word woe until you mentioned it!
I think my mind says "woe-mags", no "wuhmags" as I'd say "woman".
Although I probably say "women" (plural) as "wimmin", so maybe I should say "wimags"?
But I agree, who knows?