I'm not one for conspiracy theories, but I've got to think that all the TSA regulations regarding what you can and can't take beyond a checkpoint are really intended to create a captive audience to help businesses in the airport terminals.  As I walked through a metal detector in my socks, having watched bottles of water, cups of yogurt, and anything else resembling liquid or food being thrown away, I realized that you can buy all those things once again past the checkpoint.  And then I walked past several restaurants and coffee shops, where everything was 50% more expensive, and the clerks didn't exactly look like someone who went through a thorough background check.

I can't say I felt any more secure because of all the "security".