See... that would have made sense, but it apparently operates on bizarre dream logic, still a hint might have been nice even if it just amounted to one of his internal thoughts when you interact with the chute.
"Looks jammed, bet I could dislodge it with something though... but what?"
Beyond the... serviceable combat of SH2 and SH3 I honestly do not have many criticisms of them overall, but that's indeed one of them, that and the strong opinion that the songs Promise and Angel's Thanatos should have been switched.