Eh, no? One requires you to login other one is just a program running in a session above other windows. I’ve had situations where just cleaning keyboard crashed lock-screen and it sometimes showed and allowed to manipulate windows behind the lock screen. That was on gnome few years ago, but I don’t think that any other lockscreen works differently.
Why would you ever wish to log out?
So you can leave your computer unattended in the office for example.
Lock it, don’t log out!
When logged out my home directory would be re-locked. Dunno if screen locking does it.
I’m not sure I get what you mean. You mean your home directory is encrypted?
Yes, my home direcrory on my work computer is encrypted.
Whether you log out or lock your desktop makes no difference. If someone knows your password they can access your files, no?
Eh, no? One requires you to login other one is just a program running in a session above other windows. I’ve had situations where just cleaning keyboard crashed lock-screen and it sometimes showed and allowed to manipulate windows behind the lock screen. That was on gnome few years ago, but I don’t think that any other lockscreen works differently.