Role Based Picklist handling is a mess...
I'd forgotten about this but it has just cropped up again on the developer's mailing list [1] so it is probably prudent to re-create the issue here:
I just did a test on a clean vtiger 6.2.0 and role-based picklist handling is a bit of a mess frankly, it all depends on the view you are currently in:
In List view a value I am not allowed to choose simply says "Access Denied"
When looking at a record in Summary or Detail View a non-privileged user can see the value that is already set in the picklist, even if it is a value they are not allowed to choose. But if you click the pencil icon to edit it you must then change it to something you are allowed; there is no way to cancel the edit at all
In Edit view loading the screen resets the picklist to a blank option forcing the user to set it to something they are able to choose or leave blank if not a mandatory field
IMHO this is all very inconsistent and confusing for the user.
[1] The original email conversation is here: http://lists.vtigercrm.com/pipermail/vtigercrm-developers/2015-February/031464.html
This issue was recorded on TRAC here: http://trac.vtiger.com/cgi-bin/trac.cgi/ticket/8471