The locker is there as a gift from Daniel, Follows Chalk and Graham for aiding Zion. If you chose the "Chaos" path by killing everyone, no footlocker, you have to kill for the items. The devs did it so us peaceful types don't have to spend hours reverse pickpocketing power armor, ballistic fists and AMRs to get the stuff,
Oh? I didn't consider that aspect. I'll admit I thought the chest thing was a bit cheesy, but that explanation would make sense. I personally don't generally run around killing for gear + I don't reverse pickpocket much, so yeah, I guess I wouldn't have gotten most of those items without the chest until later plays, where I will sometimes get "mean." ;D So thanks devs, nice gift.