one item to recall in the "ask first" question could be to recall when in the development frame of VASL one first became acquainted with VASL.
I learned about it in the 2.0 version days. Back then all inet access was dial up. Sometimes from very slow modems. there was no auto-sync when you entered a room, you had to physically sync with one of the players and then you were basically, looking over his shoulder. you could see his concealed units, the other guys units were just stacks of "?"'s.
with the fact that a slower CPU and/or a slower dial up modem could drag down the speed at which a VASL server game processed moves and text (there was no VOIP), syncing meant a real concern in slowing down a game was possible. So etiquette was expressed by Rodney K (who hosted the server back then), to please ask before syncing with an ongoing game.
For those of use form VASL 2.0 to VASL 4.0 version time frames, that remained a constant, and became a habit of etiquette.
As the VASL program began to really evolve with newer computers and faster net access speeds and the rise of VOIP's, with the 5.0 version forward, cycles came into the programming that allowed and still automatically allow, syncing once someone enters the room.
for those of us used to the old "ask first" policy, we still do - and it is understandable that from time to time those used to that habit may be annoyed when someone does not follow the older etiquette graces.
I only typically lock a game if its a playtest. Those are usually with gentlemen's agreements in place for confidentiality. so they remain locked.
otherwise, I just do as Jackson noted above and keep a logfile running during the game.
YMMV of course.
KRL, Jon H