There's always an explanation and most times, it makes perfect sense.

I had a toaster oven that was barely used and not being used. Family in another state wanted a toaster oven. It was obviously not cost effective to ship it, wasteful to just discard it and let the family buy a new one, and too tricky to pack safely enough to check.

Now the smoked turkey that makes an annual trip home with me? It always gets a bag check and a swab. I don't check it because I would like to trust TSA and the baggage handlers, I really would...but when I'm meeting family for Thanksgiving and I'm the one bringing the main course, I'm not taking any chances.