With regard to the baggies, I haven't taken mine out in over a year (actually, I think I did one time) and they have not been requesting that in the lines in about that long.
Cheers.
You obviously haven't been to PDX lately! Had an officious older TSA female clerk tell me I must declare all my liquids. I asked exactly "declare" really meant to which I was told, they must be visible and screened outside of the rollaboard. I truly believe she was making all this guff up but boy she felt good about telling me! All other places I agree, it's the consistent inconsistency that keeps them terrowists on their feet!