IIRC, when the Reid incident happened and the liquids bust took place in the UK, things got stupid crazy for a few weeks afterward. Then the extremes relaxed, but elements of the stupidity remained (shoe removal and liquid bans).

So what do we have today? No IFE on some flights, nothing in your lap / no standing / gate checks. This will be a disaster at airports with all the Kettles flying over the holidays, but the media will be filled with interviews with Kettles who say, "anything to prevent what happened in Detroit" -- "I feel a lot more secure". So this will embolden the Congresscritters to impose new rules and new funding for TSA to "prevent this from happening again".

I would suggest that the airlines are helpless here. The very last thing they need is for there to be another exodus of pax (particularly FFers) because of the new rules. UA, for example, is enhancing their IFE and the last thing they need is for that investment to go out the window, along with the ticket revenue. They also really don't want the added checked baggage load, regardless of revenue opportunity because that will be offset by labor expense and the costs of claims for lost / stolen items.

I predict that the madness will continue until the New Year, then the "new rules" will take effect. I think they will implement the old "30 minute rule" for remaining seated. The airlines will be forced to eliminate baggage fees on the first two checked bags and carry-ons will be limited to one strictly enforced standard size bag -- no separate purses or computer bags -- just one bag. You can stuff whatever you want (except liquids and gels) in that bag, but only one bag. Period. Ticket prices will uniformly increase by about $50 for "added security measures". I would also suspect that there will now be a total ban on liquids and gels at the checkpoints. If you have to carry that stuff, check it.