You know that and I know that, but apparently our highly trained, professional security folks (at least a few of them) know something we don't...

I'm guessing this was an airport thing, because it's the same airport that took my zip-ties on one occasion. I always carry a couple with me (a couple came in very handy when something broke under the hood of our vehicle in the middle of nowhere in Botswana, fixed my snorkel when the clip holding to my mask broke, use them in place of luggage locks). Anyway, they got confiscated because they could be used as 'restraining devices', just like plastic handcuffs.

I guess I either don't watch enough TV or I don't have a vivid enough imagination.