There isn't any "shoe fetish" as you state. With the enhanced walk through metal detectors shanks in shoes will trigger an alarm. Most people are advised to remove shoes so they do not have to be subjected to secondary screening. There are cases where passengers are told to remove shoes. These are because the type of shoe has been known to be able to conceal potentially dangerous objects. To get a look at possible items these shoes need to be X-Rayed. It is unfortunate but this has become a fact of life.

Reading posts from several people here shows me that it wouldn't matter what was happening they would complain. I and fellow TSA personnel that are on these boards are trying to convey information here. With the attitudes we have seen here no wonder you have problems.