My experience over the years is that TSA at regional airports are much less busy and this allows them the time to do all the "extra" things that you don't see at larger airports.

At larger airports maybe I have my laptop swabbed for explosives once or twice a year, but at smaller airports I've had the smurfs search through my wallet, had my contact lense fluid tested, my shoes wanded, among many other things I can't remember.

Occasionally, one of them will say something like "iPads need to come out of your bag." My standard response to some random change like that is "when did that change?" and "you have to tell us in advance of changes like that" and "you can't just make up new rules because you feel like it." Every time, they back down.