This feels similar to backdooring encrypted systems. The upsides are similar: some trusted entity has the ability to act in a supposed best interest - national security in the case of encryption, reducing e-waste in the latter. Unfortunately, the downsides are also similar: it's necessary to put an outsized amount of trust in an entity (government, Apple, or whomever) that not everyone wants to place that trust in.
The backdoor is already there, is it not? According to Apple's support site, you can remove the lock remotely [1], which means they can remove the lock remotely. You're already trusting Apple.
Given that, removing the activation lock after notifying you with a 30/60/whatever day window to respond seems like a reasonable policy to me.
Similar, maybe. You're not backdooring file vault though. Just the ability to resell a machine. Personally, I feel pretty good as long as my data can't be accessed.