Why are background layers locked as default in Photoshop?

[carl201167]

I've just traded up from Elements to CS3 and am tentatively feeling my way around

One thing I find frustrating is that when I import an image into a blank document, the layer is marked background and is locked as default. I also don't appear to be able to unlock it? I end up duplicating the layer and then deleting the original.

Either I'm missing something fundamental about technique or I'm being dopey. What am I doing wrong?

 

[jamesarm97]

Double-click the background layer, then press Enter.

 

[carl201167]

Thanks Jamesarm - that'll save me a lot of messing around

I presume the idea of locking the background is to get you used to protecting the basic image and using other layers to do the edits?