I think it was just part of a lazy govrnment employee's philosophy of: "I'm going to make my job easy even if it means I have to make life difficult for you."

Think about how easier the screener's job would be if (s)he could pursuade, cajole, put the fear of God in, or otherwise convince anyone wearing jewelery, shoes, metal belt buckles, etc to to take them off as a matter of course. If it was in fact a regulatory requirement to do so, you probably would have done your post to FT from a holding cell.

I'm glad to hear you stuck to your guns and told her to take a hike. ^