It is a matter of density, the laptop bag not the screeners.

Just because other countries do or don't do it doesn't make it the best practice nor does the US have the absolute best practices on some things. There needs to be a balance everywhere.

If the laptop was left in the bag it wouldn't make a difference on the amount of screening positions needed.

It is good to see Spiff posted an intelligent argument, sad to see he was the only one.