Update: I originally flagged this as a "Lock Screen" problem. But with the help from @Dennis, I came to understand that the problem I describe below could be much better defined as a "Screen Shield" issue. Many thanks to @Dennis because I was getting ready to gouge my eyes out.
Original problem description:
I feel like I have had this problem before and I can't remember how I ultimately solved it. No matter what I do, when i close my laptop lid, it locks the screen. Except that it's not a lock screen, I don't have to enter my password, I just have to hit escape. That's annoying enough, but sometimes hitting escape doesn't work and I have to ssh into my laptop and kill X.
I have edited my /etc/systemd/logind.conf, here are the relevant edits:
39 HandleLidSwitch=ignore
40 HandleLidSwitchDocked=ignore
41 IdleAction=ignore
42 LidSwitchIgnoreInhibited=no
(all other line items in the logind.conf are commented out and I ran sudo systemctl restart systemd-logind or rebooted after)
I have installed tweak and disabled suspend with laptop lid closed.
I have made the recommended changes in the power section in Settings.
I have even installed Caffeine and enabled it.
Nothing matters, it still puts up that pseudo "not really a lock screen" screen when I close my laptop. And again, 25% of the time I have to kill X because I can't get out of it.
To make matter worse, it only goes into the lock screen about half the time, and I am unable to discern a pattern.
Much anger, please help.
Update: I tried the tip listed at How can I disable all locking in 14.10?
Still didn't work.
