I would like to have made this non-airline specific, but since it relates to AA travel, It's landed here: So, what is the point of TSA-PRE?

On a recent AA BWI-DEN-BWI trip, at BWI all TSA-PRE lanes were closed (about 5am Sunday), then on the DEN-BWI return the TSA-PRE closes at 8pm. A non-scientific count of those being handed yellow cards to 'Expediate' the process was about 1 in 3 at the DEN security - and then all it meant was that you didn't have to remove your shoes, and you got to go through the metal detector. All in all, it was no quicker than anyone else (since you had to wait for your bags being held up by all the other pax) - taking about 40 minutes. Fundamentally, this is a long way from the advertised TSA-PRE benefits, and what folks pay for.