Okay...
First, I don't dismiss "every actual security expert". I dismiss one. For me to listen to Bruce would be akin to him listening to me ponder cryptography. It's just not all that logical. Again, I dismiss one. That's about it.
Also, focusing on weapons and explosives (knives and ammo, for example) is what airport security is about... I thought you knew that. I'll give you one little bone - it was a bit over the top to take away their safety pins, but then again, what can you do. I had a boss too.

Second, military training blanks are very often made from black or red plastic. There's gunpowder and a wad of paper or thin wood to hold the gunpower in, and the top is crimped shut. They are by no stretch "safe", and will cause fire, injuries or even explosions if handled improperly. So no, I'm not changing my statement. You can read this if you'd like to know what a "blank cartridge" is.

Third, if you know so much about the subject, then you'd also know that it doesn't take more than the gunpowder to make a pretty big bang, and some nasty injuries. Also, that carry-on has metal tubes forming parts of the handle, more often than not. I'm just saying.

Fourth, before you accuse someone of being a thief, you should probably check your own definitions. You write; "for the personal gain of the taker". Where in my tiny account of something that is actually a plus for the ongoing campaign against the TSA's methods did you read that stuff was taken from a passenger for my (or another screener's) personal gain? Not making sense, "my friend". That was not by any stretch a "reasonable inference", especially since I at no point described the procedure, and the whole thing was meant to illustrate, and built on the premise that one does not need TSA-style methods.

And I'll put whatever I want in quotation marks.

-SB-