Does the increase of Lockpicking make opening locks any easier, if so how? Is there a wider area where the lock will open, do the picks break less? Or is it only a means in order to get perks which actually do these things? Thanks.

Higher skill means wider area where the lock will open, and wider area where the pick will partially turn the lock (and hence less picks will break)

It gets a little easier with higher skill, but the perk points are completely irrelevant, since lockpicks are abundant in the game. If you ever find yourself running out you can always buy more for 5 gold a piece.

Oh, and if you get that perk where you don't break lockpicks you just screwed yourself, because if you can't break them you never get multiple attempts at opening added to your skillbar, so your skill gain just slowed down to a crawl.

Thanks guys.