It might be purely because I knew you needed the key from previous playthroughs, and I just didn't pay enough attention this time round, but it wasn't obvious to me at the time that I was using the Tadpole until I activated the key and I saw the animation, as in I did not see it labelled as use tadpole vs don't use it. I am sure in the past it highlighted that you were using the tadpole next to the dialogue option before you selected it. Did I miss it?
For me I wouldn't tie the key to the tadpole but give the player the choice to use the console without the key. It would be a good introduction/tutorial of, be quick and use Tadpole, or look for an alternative solution.
No issue later on having tougher choices, but at the beginning I would prefer it to be a little more "obvious". YOu could even put in a mini fight at the key location, because right now there is no reason not to go get the key (other than the tadpole I guess, but frankly the exploration to find the key is just a minor inconvenience). However if the key was held by an opponent I would have to fight, I might turn back rather than fight and use the tadpole to circumevent the need for the key.
