Like many beginners, one of the first locks I got was a Masterlock 140, because of course cheap = easy, right? Also like many beginners, I couldn't pick it. After seeing a thread here advising newbies to steer clear of it, I put it away for later.
This morning I finally picked it, but only after doing two things: making a TOK tension tool (I have trouble keeping "standard" sized ones in the top of the keyway), and finally REALLY getting what "Light Tension" really means. The 140, given its small size and smattering of spool pins, seems very well suited to teaching those two skills. Nothing great about the lock, but beating it felt like a a graduation of sorts, even if it is just from lockpicker kindergarten.
Now on to my new Brinks Marine padlock.