John, I have NO idea.
Furthermore, it should be sufficient to install them when needed or upon request, but not to distribute them generally.
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Maybe the one under “Program Files” is meant to be read-only original, while the other one, under the “Pictures”, is for your edits. It’s like with user.config, presets, etc. However, the reason for them to exist for non-trial users is probably known only to DxO marketing department 
Just ignore.
I think you’re onto something. A computer can have multiple user accounts, so with duplication in the Pictures folder each gets to edit the sample images as each wishes. However, the software is generally ambivalent to the type of license that’s been activated. It works the same for trial and non-trial users - it’s just that the trial license expires.
Maybe Mark (@mwsilvers) has licenses for all current versions, i.e. PL9, FP8, VP5, so that’s why PL9.8.1 didn’t create the Pictures subdirectory for him?
I have PL9, FP7, and VP5 licenses, so I’m a potential FP8 trial user (in fact I was one, but deleted the FP8 trial license key after it expired), so the Pictures subdirectory was created in my case during the first PL9.8.1 run.
Correcting myself here; this folder was created for ‘DxO PhotoLab 9 sample images’ … So, it must have been created by one of the PLv9 installations. I have this folder too.