It is "hogwash" to believe that better gate security would have prevented the 9/11 attacks.

They were not successful because gate security was lax. They were successful because the hijackers knew that once on board, airline policies in place at the time ensured that they would face no opposition to their plan.

Let me say it one more time - better gate security would not have prevented the 9/11 attacks. The hijackers could have been successful with nothing more than a ball point pen.

Keep singing the TSA party line if it suits your fancy. You aren't convincing anyone except yourself.