Please describe the problem.

If .gitattributes contains * annex.largefiles=anything, then git add will add files in an unlocked state. According to this page (https://git-annex.branchable.com/tips/unlocked_files/) though, git-annex should add files in a locked state by default:

By default, git-annex commands will add files in locked mode, unless used on a filesystem that does not support symlinks, when unlocked mode is used. To make them always use unlocked mode, run: git config annex.addunlocked true

What steps will reproduce the problem?

cd $(mktemp -d)
git init
echo '* annex.largefiles=anything' > .gitattributes
git add .
git commit -m "Add gitattributes"
git annex init
cat >> annexed.txt <<EOF
This text file is unlocked
EOF
git add .
git commit -m "Add annexed"

Observe that annexed.txt will be added as a pointer file, i.e. in unlocked mode.

What version of git-annex are you using? On what operating system?

Latest from conda-forge on Ubuntu 22.04: git-annex 10.20230626 alldep_h97b9560_100 conda-forge

Please provide any additional information below.

# If you can, paste a complete transcript of the problem occurring here.
# If the problem is with the git-annex assistant, paste in .git/annex/daemon.log

(git-annex) $ bash <script-with-commands-from-reproduce-section> 
Initialized empty Git repository in /tmp/tmp.XzlfX1juzC/.git/
[main (root-commit) 7633536] Add gitattributes
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+)
 create mode 100644 .gitattributes
init  ok
(recording state in git...)
(recording state in git...)
[main 60f1b44] Add annexed
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+)
 create mode 100644 annexed.txt
(git-annex) $ cd /tmp/tmp.XzlfX1juzC
(git-annex) /tmp/tmp.XzlfX1juzC$ ls -l
total 4
-rw-rw-r-- 1 <user> <group> 27 Okt 23 17:12 annexed.txt
(git-annex) /tmp/tmp.XzlfX1juzC$ git annex find --unlocked
annexed.txt
(git-annex) /tmp/tmp.XzlfX1juzC$

# End of transcript or log.

done --Joey