I think his explanation is pretty straightforward:
Expectation: Liftgate has a lock/unlock feature alongside the doors, and button on liftgate is used to activate liftgate only, not to lock or unlock it. A locked liftgate should require unlocking (by unlocking the doors, I suppose) prior to being allowed to activate it.
Reality: Liftgate is *always* locked when closed. Pushing the button
allows the liftgate open in the following cases
- Doors are unlocked
- Doors are locked but fob is within proximity of liftgate
The confusing part for OP is that the liftgate does not have a true 'unlocked' state; only a state where it
allows the rear button to operate it. Doors locked with no key fob present means you are not
allowed to operate liftgate.
This isn't confusing to me because it's the exact same behavior on my Ford Focus. My previous CUV, however, a CR-V without power liftgate, had a standard door handle on the liftgate and it functioned alongside the door lock/unlock mechanism. Doors (and hence, liftgate) *had* to be unlocked in order to open it.