Originally Posted by Wally Bird

Ain't no doubt about it.

I'm not sure the puffers were really a pilot scheme, the TSA ended up buying (well, contacting for) 207 machines, but after 94 had been installed they suddenly found they didn't work. The TSA was able to blame the machines, thereby avoiding a loss of "face".

This new bloated BD scheme will be implemented nationwide since there is no success or failure metric, so if the TSA says it works then it works .
It generates the need for more manpower, hence a greater budget, hence a bigger empire.
It gives more ersatz power to checkpoint workers and increases their opinions of self worth.
Most importantly, not to do so would be an admission by the TSA that it was a dumb idea, something they never have and never will do (see: Say Your Name).