In rc.sysint, `loadkeys' is started at a point where only the root file system is mounted (ro). `loadkeys' itself is in /usr/bin/. /usr/lib/kbd/keymaps/ is actually checked for, but not existant on systems which have a separate /usr/ partition. This leads to a "non-configured" keymap.
loadkeys is actually in /bin; it does this so it can a keymap that lives in /etc/sysconfig/console if there is one. If you're running the 'keytable' service, it will still get loaded at the normal place later.