I don't like to waste too much time micro-managing compulsive pickpocketing (it's not like there's that much to buy with these money anyway) and I never ever bothered picking up a single barrel or chest, so yeah, I'd say we are clearly using it differently.
The camp storage chest for so far was just for "things that are I consider too important to sell away but that I have little use for currently". Admittedly not a category that includes a whole lot.
