Actually, this is the flaw in selectee screening. It is the fundamental reason why I think selectee screening is a waste of our time and yours. Everyone who passes through the checkpoint IS screened. Selectees, that is, those unfortunate souls with SSSS on their boarding passes, have to undergo secondary screening regardless of whether or not they alarmed the WTMD or had anything suspicious detected by the x-ray operator inside their carry-on. However, my point is that they DID undergo primary screening (WTMD & x-ray of property) just like everyone else.

From a strictly risk-vulnerability point of view, I am 100% confident that any selectee who was "missed" at the checkpoint is NOT carrying anything dangerous that is going to take down a plane. They may have a lighter (heavens!) or maybe a baby Swiss Army knife (gasp!), but they will NOT have anything that is going to pose a real threat to the people on that plane. Nonetheless, we're required to re-screen them again at the gate if they weren't properly screened as selectees at the checkpoint. One time, the airline simply sent a missed selectee back to the checkpoint for the proper screening. My screening manager was upset that the airline didn't escort the passenger back to the checkpoint. I asked him what the big deal was, and he told me that it was considered a breach. Having known him as a friend a number of years prior to TSA, I asked him how he could say that to me and keep a straight face. He didn't appreciate the comment. To this day, I am still dumbfounded how TSA considers this a breach.

As for the rest of your post, you'll get no disagreement from me. There is no excuse for rude behavior. However, allow me to point out that rude behavior existed before TSA from private contract screeners. It exists outside of TSA as well. It is, unfortunately, a reflection of our society where rudeness seems to be tolerated. Reminds me of a joke about a customer who finishes paying for his goods at the register and then asks the cashier, "Aren't you supposed to wish me a nice day?" And she responds, "It's written on the receipt."