[Kiowa Warrior]

...does this then give weight to the theories proposed quite a while ago that he was trying to make contact with Locke back in S1, when he nearly got dragged down the hole in the jungle by it?

Yes Ben's character wasn't that developed at all back in S1/most of S2, but it could fit in with the island timeline.

Or maybe someone else (possibly Jacob) was controlling the BS and wanted a quick word with Locke back then, or maybe the BS can't be controlled as simply or easily as giving it a few commands: maybe it has to be asked to do something and/or requires something in exchange for its services, and is quite capable of essentially acting on its own free will at times.

But that scene where the BS comes roaring out to attack Keamy's team was just amazing! If that's some of the power that Ben can control you really don't want to anger him too much at all...