I had my xb for 6 months and havent used the key on the door until the other day. The locks seem to be power activated, meaning the key linkage is not connected to the door handle.

Will the doors open if the battery is dead or removed?

Yes it will.

Yep, the locks themselves and mechanical and have nothing to do with the power.

You will not be able to use the power door locks though.

Yes.

Yes it will.

it seems like the door locks are power, even with the key, like the trunk.

SEEMS and IS are different. The front doors are entirely mechanical with a linear actuator that runs piggyback on the lock rod.

They're mechanical. Take the battery out of the car, they still work. If a car has a keyhole in the door - it's mechanical. ALWAYS.