In regards to locking your credit, it has definitely become much easier over the past couple of years. I’ve been locking my credit for at least the past 10 years or so. I just had to go in and make a temporary unfreeze on all three of the major bureaus for a car loan. All three now let you do a freeze or unfreeze completely online (also, all are free at least in CA). Now that the process is so much easier than calling, there is no reason not to do it.