Although I am not a FF, I only fly maybe once or twice every other year but since I just recently returned from Maui Hawaii and had to deal with TSA, I will give you my input.
Fist off Barts comments will be helpful to future travelers who may stumble onto this site like I did a month ago. I read so many things about the TSA that I already arrived at airport (JFK) with a chip on my shoulder for them. What I encountered at JFK (AA terminal) was somewhat chaotic. TSA telling some to take off shoes, others not to, yelling at some people. TSA just looked at my Merrell Clog type shoes and said No you don't have to take them off. My husband's Boat shoes had to come off. My carry-on had to go through a double screening for whatever reason. At one point TSA telling me to get moving but still my bag was not returned. Finally TSA holds up my bag and say's it needs to be hand checked. Fine, Whatever. . . the guy was nice but kinda cold. I asked him why it was being hand checked and he just said sometimes the machine cannot see "everything" thus having a 3rd check. Upon arriving in Maui (OGG) our check in bag was not opened nor did it look like it was checked.

When returning home from Maui (OGG) I encountered very very friendly TSA people with the Aloha Spirit. First off they have some sort of metal device with a shoe imprint on it. Both my husband & I had to place our foot (shoe on) onto this thing. TSA say's "your ok" with a smile. This time my carry-on which had the same exact things in it cleared the scanner with no second checks. Even TSA said to us as we were leaving "have a safe trip home" which I reply "I wish this was my home" with a smile.
While waiting at the gate my husband & I were standing up front as we were due to board first. Just then a male & female TSA agents come up to us. Surprise . . we have been picked for a random inspection. I have to say we were laughing all through it. My husband is a NYC Police Officer and now the "search" was on the other foot. Even the TSA guy was laughing with my husband as it's just a random thing. No big deal. We are actually happy that they are checking. The female who searched me was courteous, etc... About the only thing that I did not "care" for was that they started boarding and the other passengers where all staring at us like we did something wrong but really there was no place else to go. Right after they let us go they grabbed another couple. When we landed in JFK our check-in bag had a locking plastic twist tie on it. When I broke it off I noticed a card inside from the TSA saying that our bag was inspected in Maui. Nothing was damaged or missing. The Kona coffee and trinkets all made it back home safe & sound.

Although I do not encounter TSA as much as some of you do but for my first time flying since 3 weeks after 9/11 my experience was positive.