Some people don't like the idea of a lock, on general principle. For a lot of us, the lock on S&W revolvers is particularly onerous.
In some circles, its known as the "Hillary Hole".
Basically, the Clinton Administration had a list of features and business practices they wanted to see on handguns. A lock. Loaded chamber indicator. Magazine disconnect. Hidden serial#s. These were to be included in new gun designs, and any that could be, should be applied to existing gun designs .
Their "deal" also included a bunch of other restrictions about how the guns could be sold at retail, even including language to bar minors from even being there, etc.
What they offered the gunmakers was, that, if they went along with the deal, the gunmaker would be immune to the pending lawsuits from the various City Mayors groups. AND, they hinted at preferential treatment for the gunmakers's products if future purchase contracts (something that they couldn't do, in effect, a lie to the gunmakers).
S&W was owned, at the time, by Thompkins LLC, a British holding company. THEY decided S&W would be the first on the Clinton's bandwagon. SO, we got the Hillary Hole.
As it turned out, S&W was the ONLY gunmaker to get onboard with the Clinton deal.
S&W shooters, who love the classic look of the S&W line suddenly got not only a stupid, unneeded hole, but also a drastic change in the look of the cylinder latch as well, which "spoils" things. AND, WE DIDN"T GET AN OPTION, or a VOICE in the matter. It was "lock models only, take it or leave it."
And a LOT of us left it. S&W sales tanked. Their stock dropped hugely, and Thompkins LLC wound up selling S&W for a LOSS!
Sadly for the purists, the people who bought S&W were heavily involved in that lock as well, and it was kept. I think S&W should offer identical guns with, and without that lock for a few years, and let the market decide which ones to keep, but that's just me...
I'm not opposed to having a lock built in (provided it can be ignored), I've got a Ruger with a lock in it, and its of no concern to me at all. But the Hilary Hole S&W lock was just such an "in your face" insult to not only our sense of style and history, but our right to free choice as well, that I cannot, and will not forgive it.
Personally, I think you are an idiot if you USE a lock on a loaded gun. Internal or aftermarket. And an unloaded gun is not dangerous.
Lock up (secure) guns IN something,, I'm fine with that. But don't lock a loaded gun.