It's quite true that right now, the D:OS Beta doesn't really have so many options or alternate routes.
The idea of Lockpicking as a shortcut to solutions is a reasonable one, and there are at least a few some places where it could be used.
The Withered Gardens has a path on the east side leading down towards the teleporter, but a wall blocks it. If instead it's a locked gate which you can pick, it lets you bypass a bunch of traps which are at the other entrance. A key could be placed inside the gardens, requiring you to enter either through the traps or gate.
The Church has a collapsed and blocked stairway at its entrance. The only way to reach the entrance is to go through the graveyard and through a bunch of encounters. Make the stairs connect and put a locked gate, and look - you can pick it and bypass some encounters. A gate key could be placed at the church entrance.
In the Black Cove, the key to the Black Cove Harbour Gate is on some books right beside the gate. Whoopie. Put the key in either of the two rooms full of traps nearby, and lockpicking will let you bypass it to open the gate.
In the Black Cult hideout, there's a room full of anemic cultists and there's a door leading further into the level. Lock that gate, and put the key elsewhere in the room, and you now have the option of fighting the cultists or sneaking past and lockpicking the door. (A poor example because you can just sneak to the currently-unlocked door.)
