You can't "lock" something that doesn't exist.

[JohnSpawnVFX]

Someone that wants to play Viera will also be forced to play a female character.

Which is defeated by the fact that one choosing to play as Viera will already know that there's only female available to it. Why would you choose to play as them and then complain you're being forced?

That is what is otherwise known as genderlock.

You mean restraining classes to certain genders? Because that's what genderlock is.

This isn't complicated stuff, and this is coming from someone that doesn't really give two shites about the genderlock but can still fully recognize that it exists.

Ofc it's not. It's people finding means to bring their grievances to the forefront as much as possible. Such as claiming genderlock when there is none, knowing that the media will lap it up greedily and make an even bigger storm.
True genderlock is indeed a lazy practice and nothing like this. But hey, whatever forces the devs hand, even if it goes against their budget or artistic vision, right?