WillCAD,
I get it. I do think that the TSA's primary problems are with its revolving door of incompetent leadership. It is a world in which one cannot ask, "why?" The rules are so protean, outdated, or cannot be enforced. As recent investigations have shown, there is a culture of fear among TSA staff. Decisions about passengers and their belongings are often arbitrary or absurd because the rules are secret, make no sense, and too many are afraid of disciplinary action for failing to follow ever-changing and confusing procedures.

I just listened to the podcast, "Working." A particular episode was about a retail manager. Perhaps it was a Gap or Banana Republic--something like that. The manager spoke about how many customers treated the staff as if that was the end of their careers. In fact, many of his employees were in graduate or professional school or on their way there. This manager felt that many of his customers treated the staff as if they would never achieve anything in life. Perhaps the same is true of many TSA employees. I don't know.

CottonMather0
I just pretend like they the line monitors aren't there. I'll smile, say hello, and keep moving. I do not give them a chance to ask for anything; I'm already well past them. I've now taken to have my boarding card on my watch, which has far too tiny print for them to handle, and they give up.

It was only a problem once, while boarding a United Express flight at Dulles. An Airserv employee stopped everyone on the jetway. Thus everyone had to fumble with their phones or dig out their boarding cards that had just been scanned. She wouldn't accept a watch-based card and made me go back inside (the gate agent was furious with the Airserve woman.)

I sought quiet revenge: she wasn't wearing a SIDA badge, so I turned her in. It probably wasn't her fault. Some nitwit at Airserv thought this was going to be a good idea. I haven't been back in a long time, so I'm guessing that they have rethought their policy.

Hot Pocket and Halls120
I agree, the PreCheck lines are ostensible with their distinctive green "check" logo.

There are certainly people who attempt to game the system. I have no doubt about that.

But I do think PreCheck gets confusing: since the metal detector, not the full body scanner, is used for families and those over and above certain ages, there can be an impression that those passengers were given PreCheck. Now that PreCheck passengers can be subjected to the full body scanner, the line blurs. It becomes less obvious at a crowded checkpoint who does and does not have PreCheck.

There is also the frustration of Global Entry and NEXUS, which theoretically offer PreCheck as a benefit. But passengers are ill-informed about this. Unless PreCheck appears on the boarding card, it's not there. I see a lot of passengers present a Global Entry card without PreCheck, and the TSA has actually let them through to PreCheck a few times.

Since so many airports close their PreCheck lines, there is further confusion about "Expedited Screening," "PreCheck Light," etc. I have been standing next to a PreCheck sign with a PreCheck "embossed" boarding card, but I still have to wait in the regular queue and take out my liquids. Then I get other passengers telling me to take off my shoes or I'll "hold up the line," even though I have the laminated "leave your shoes on" card.

It creates confusion for everyone. As far as we know, it's a confusion they would like because they're trying to demonstrate a need for more staff.