ID checking originated as a revenue protection measure by the airlines. It does nothing to enhance security. TSA has adopted it as part of their mission creep, and if you listen to their lies often enough, you might actually start believing them.

In Australia they have two standards for concourse security:

If there are no flights that must be screeened to international standards, anyone can pass through security & see you off at the gate. They don't even check boarding passes.

In terminals that allow access to international flights, security is pretty much as in the U.S.