As for the caps lock location, i think you can thank typewriters for that.
As best i recall, they did caps lock by having a mechanical locking lever/key attached to the left side shift key arm. Thus to do caps lock you pushed down the shift key and then locked it in place with that key. Once done you popped the key loose with a press and moved on.
That locking key is pretty much in the same location as the caps lock key is today.
edit:
As for the caps lock location, i think you can thank typewriters for that.
As best i recall, they did caps lock by having a mechanical locking lever/key attached to the left side shift key arm. Thus to do caps lock you pushed down the shift key and then locked it in place with that key. Once done you popped the key loose with a press and moved on.
That locking key is pretty much in the same location as the caps lock key is today.