Hmmm, I wonder about the 'good purpose'. If I want really good cheese, I will sometimes buy it in Europe and bring it back with me (entirely allowed). However, I can only bring $20 worth. Now I suspect this is to prevent trade - but really, I could easily bring back 10 times that for my personal consumption (given cheese doesn't have an especially short shelf life). I think it should have the same sorts of rules as in the EU 'personal consumption quantitles' - and I could easily explain $200 (especially if I can also include French butter!)

I am also not sure confiscating an airplane cheese sandwich (when the beagle has once again ascertained that my airline lunch went into my bag unopened rather than consumed) has any good reason behind it.