Of course the reaiity is the that gate checkpoint is not reliable, and as we have seen, ample numbers of people have ready access to the secure areas of the terminal without going through any security at all.

Given this and the fact that there is a legitimate fear of thieves (even the ones who don't work for TSA), which fear would lead most people to keep their bags with them, an unattended bag seems worthy of investigation to me.

I'm hard on TSA but this one doesn't bother me.