The cost is down on my list of complaints, way down.

The PIPI that is the center of discussion in this thread is just the newest infringement added to a long list.

We now have to submit our names and personal information to be compared to multiple lists of dubious creation to allow us to enter the process without creating additional screening requirements. The source of this information is unknown and secret. The reason we may be on the list, if we are, is unknown and secret. The advanced screening to which we may be subject is unknown and secret.

We must present a valid ID with our boarding papers, an exercise of limited security value but necessary anyway.

At the discretion of a government actor, we can be selected to undergo a virtual scan of or nude body with the option of selection a law enforcement style physical search instead. This is done without any probable cause or suspicion except for the fact that we wish to get on airplane and fly somewhere.

We are told our personal papers can be searched. We are told that they may record our information from documents and credit cards. We may be asked why we are carrying cash and valuables. We have to specially declare and justify medications. People with medical implants, prostheses, medical devices must justify their existence. People requiring wheelchairs and assist devices are required to prove that they are not using these devices to hide contraband often in painful and embarrassing procedures.

Anomalies detected in any of these processes may lead to further more intrusive searches or our denial of travel. Objections to the process can lead to our personal information being collected and added to some list that is both secret in is purpose and reason. We can be fined for interfering with the process, a description of said offense being secret.

We may be further subjected to additional searches and inspections of or bodies, belongings, liquids and matches of our papers and ID yet again, before we can board the plane.

Most of this is not authorized specifically by any properly created regulation or public law except that that may be granted by an unlimited authority to "do whatever needs to be done, we will justify it later" attitude. (The previous quote is a rhetorical creation for descriptive effect of the process and is not an actual quote, so please do not accuse me of making up quotes as it was rhetorical.) Attempts to determine the actual process is met with the reply that it is secret and we can not be told, but be assured we must comply with this secret process and its secret penalties.

We are told that we can not lawfully photograph this process, even when we can, and may be threatened with arrest for attempting to do so.

All of this is on top of the reasonable processes instituted to detect WEI such as bag xray and searches, ETD, WTMD and the now defunct HHMD.

The cost is a problem, without a doubt. Yet on my list of complaints, it is way down the list.