Back in the late 70s through the mid-80s, I remember commercial flights on small commuter airlines in California that had no screening of any kind. If you were flying from Santa Maria (SMX) or San Luis Obispo (SLO) to LAX, you would fly from the boonies airport to LAX and land at the old Commuter Terminal. If you landed at one of the regular terminals, they made you go through pre-9/11 screening as you entered the main terminal. Since you were generally connecting to another flight, it wasn't a big deal.

In the TSA era, if I were flying just to Portland from Klamath Falls, I would refuse the reverse screening and they could escort me out of the secure area. (Disclaimer: I have no idea concerning the practicality of flying from Klamath Falls to Portland.) If I were on a flight anywhere else and they wanted to do a reverse screening for whatever contrived reason and if it was my destination airport, you can bet I would decline to be screened.

There have been FTers who have refused reverse after arriving on an international flight without a connection at airports with no direct exit from Customs.