I have to agree that the TSA is part of the problem and the the nickel and diming by the US carriers is another part of the problem.

I'm amazed at how much of a difference it seems to make to fly a non-US carrier. If I'm on a TATL flight in economy, United wants to charge for alcohol, but Lufthansa provides it complementary. I flew on Air Canada to Montreal and their plane had tv's in the seat backs, but on my return flight on United, in the same model of plane, there was nothing. It just seems like I'm treated better by the crew on a non-US carrier too.