Whoops, nevermind, I am an idiot!
Of course, the help files are partly to blame as well.
Making an edge FREE means that the edge stays at the same coordinates all the time. It does not mean it is free to move about the country.
And LOCKING an edge means that the edge is forced to be a fixed distance from the equivalent edge of the gadget it is groped with. In the case of my panel, it is attached to the window, so if I "lock" it's right edge, the right edge will move with the edge of the window and remain a fixed distance from it.
Which is exactly the behavior I needed!
Of course, the help files are partly to blame as well.
Making an edge FREE means that the edge stays at the same coordinates all the time. It does not mean it is free to move about the country.
And LOCKING an edge means that the edge is forced to be a fixed distance from the equivalent edge of the gadget it is groped with. In the case of my panel, it is attached to the window, so if I "lock" it's right edge, the right edge will move with the edge of the window and remain a fixed distance from it.
Which is exactly the behavior I needed!