I guess I really have no opinion of the lock on mine because its the only s&w that I've owned (so far
), but I was just curious if people just ignore it or choose to follow the instructions on a couple youtube videos I watched about removing it.

On my 642 I just ignore it; don't even know where the key is.
My 686, I removed it. The rest are pre lock models.
I locked my M60 once when traveling by air. When I got to my destination I realized after I carried it for a day that I hadn't unlocked it!
I never used it again.