Have experienced TSA at small airports like PUW and LWS.

In fact Horizon Air has a circular flight that does SEA-LWS-PUW-SEA or SEA-PUW-LWS-SEA -- the PUW-LWS sector is 25 miles.

I believe they should just eliminate screening at these ultra small stations and just clear pax on arrival at the hub if they are connecting.

Other nations like New Zealand, Australia, Costa Rica, etc. do this without problem.

Did such a segment in Costa Rica a bit over a month ago. Two airlines at the airport - one uses single engine Cessna Caravans, the other twin-engine DHC7's. There were two check-in counters, one for each carrier, and you just walk out to the tarmac to board when the plane comes in.

Open seating - I took seat 2A which was an exit row on the DHC7.

FWIW -- this is the airport:



The Tarmac:



Boarding:



Views from my Seat - note lack of cockpit door. Nice view of GPS / Nav Aids + radios.





Exit Row:



Spectacular scenery once airborne:



Last, off-topic, but have a look at this:

The aircraft are parked at LIR and read "US Department of Homeland Security" and "US Customs and Border Protection"



These two DHS / CBP AWACs were at LIR when I arrived - saw them the following morning from my hotel, but they had departed by the time I returned to the airport for an afternoon flight.

I presume these birds are used for drug flight interdiction over the Caribbean (?)