My view:

Before 9/11 security at US airports was lower then in Europe. Do you remember unticketed people being able to go to the gate area ? Also, I think box cutters wouldn't have been allowed on board in Europe to begin with.

After 9/11 all of this has changed. Unfortunately most of the changes are just for show and now security lines in the US are slower and more elaborate than elsewhere, but to little or no advantage security-wise. Shoes and laptop policies are good examples of that.