jkhuggins

This is an artifact of the architectural layouts at several airports, which were not designed well with respect to the United States' rather [ahem] "unique" approach to screening in-bound international flights.

At most US airports, once you've collected your baggage and transited Customs, you're now completely outside of the sterile area. So, you visit the airline counter (sometimes conveniently in the customs area) to recheck your bags, then wander over to the TSA checkpoint and get re-screened along with all the local folks in order to re-enter the sterile area. On the other hand, if this airport was your final destination, you're free to simply take your bags and walk out the door and find your ground transportation away from the airport.

At a small number of US airports, though, the only exit from Customs is onto the sterile concourse. TSA sets up a checkpoint at that exit. For connecting passengers, this is fine, since they were going to have to go through a TSA checkpoint anyways. But if that airport is your final destination, it's a bit absurd.

Most passengers probably go ahead and submit to TSA screening in order to enter the sterile concourse and walk the couple hundred feet to leave the concourse and head out the door. But, as the OP points out, it's technically not required. (TSA can hardly threaten you with "DYW2FT" if, in fact, you don't want to fly anymore that day ...). Of course, this leaves the passenger in a no-man's land.

The "solution", as described by the OP, is for the passenger to be escorted through the sterile area. But, as also described by the OP, that solution is often time-consuming. Most passengers probably give in for the convenience of getting out the door.