...and people wonder why I call it "ExtortionCheck".....

Even if they went back to pre-9/11 checkpoints, the TSA would always have to have something for the elite flyers and others who feel they have to be privileged. That's the only way to silence criticism and keep the airlines happy. They will never go back to pre-9/11 checkpoints because they would have to admit they were wrong and apologize (or ignore) every country that played along at considerable expense to their own taxpayers.