Um, Disney doesn't force you to put things in lockers before each ride; and the rides that do require any kind of securing over there provide the free option to place it in the storage spot in front of your seat - and that's Universal's direct competitor. I love SeaWorld and BGT, but that ain't who Universal is "rivaling" with.
But I can see the argument from both sides. There still are free lockers to use at Universal and should be satisfactory to use for most people. However, Universal set the precedent for so many years that the lockers are free, and because there is, mostly, no other choice to ride an attraction if your items can't fit in the standard lockers.
Would opinions change if it was only a dollar to use the larger locker, or would you still want free?