Lockpicking needs a rework in general, getting 14s with one pick then 14 picks on the last .2s is ... infuriating.
the lockpicking skill tree is just a QoL timesaver for players who would rather spec into useless perks than tool perks.
Each pick should minimum reduce the overall timer by 1s so that you are guaranteed after 16 picks but on average 8 for people who havent specced into it.
Picks do need more general use tbh, opening doors should be fine, maybe if certain doors operated more like safes where you can bash your way in or lockpick? i think having some poi rooms with locked doors is fine, but distinguish them from doors that arent meant to be opened by calling those doors 'jammed' with boards across them and the other ones merely 'locked'.
honestly they should just combine lockpicking into one of the other niche perks like treasure hunter or even lucky looter. They all kind of do the same thing in different ways (lowering time taken for very niche loot) and they all kind of feel bad to invest in. At least combine lockpicking with treasure hunter, they are both niche skills that only save time in rare cases as early game you cant craft lockpicks. mid game you can craft iron tools that are generally very useful as opposed to lockpicks that only might succeed even with perks, and late game you just punch safes apart with little effort.
Basically combine treasure hunter and lockpicking.