Agreed to a point - those 100,000 aren't going to the the "Ma and Pa Kettles" who don't know that they have to remove their coats, put their liquids in a plastic bag and take off their oversize novelty belt buckles. I'd rather be in a line behind 10 business travelers who have the routine down than 5 first timers with strollers and Big Gulps.

Another - perhaps non-published - benefit of CLEAR seems to be the elimination of secondary screening selection. I have no way to prove it, but since I enrolled with CLEAR I've yet to have an SSSS boarding pass, regardless of air carrier. I've booked plenty of last minute and one-way tickets (including international) and haven't been selected.