Please allow this moment of venting so that I may board my WN (yes, I said WN) flight with some semblance of normalcy....

If you're familiar with the setup at PHX, you have to go landside to change terminals, and for me, I had to go AA - T2 to WN - T3 to fly to SNA. Found a short line, and I think, "cool". For context, I went through the D-gate security checkpoint 3 times... I'll explain all like this:

>FIRST time:
I'm rushing to get to an earlier flight to see if I can sneak on (of course I can't, but wanted to see if I got lucky). Anyways, I dutifully take out my laptop. TSA is annoucing "We recommend you take off your shoes..." I ask real quick if I had to take mine off, and the answer is "yes." Not wanting to waste time, I did it, went through, and found out I can't board the earlier flight even though it's 2/3 full (yes, I know WN's rules re: standby... and still think they stink).

>SECOND time:
Now, with 2 1/2 hours to kill, I'm hungry, and I'm craving something from the Great Steak Co., which is in the A gates. To get there, I either a) leave security and go though again at the A checkpoint, distance = 150 feet, or b) stay airside and walk (with moving walks) about 1/2 all the way around the "U". I choose a).

I reach the A checkpoint, and there's a mass of people there, so I head back to D (still no line) to walk airside (I could use the exercise). This time, same answer, "we recommend you take off..." I say, "But these shoes are ok at other airports, and ask, "Do I have to?" and the answer is "No..." So I walk through, and literally halfway through the scanner the TSA lady says, "... but you'll be subject to SSSS." I back out, and being really hungry now, no arguments from me... shoes come off, and off I go.

>THIRD time:
I'm now full, and not really wanting to make that walk again. So I leave the A area, and walk the short distance to D checkpoint (again, no line). Again, the annoucement. THIS time, I just walk to the scanner... the TSA lady (different ones each time) challenges me:

TSA lady: "Sir you have to take off your shoes."
Me: "But these aren't profile."
TSA lady: They're profile to ME...
Me: Why? The thickness is fine...
TSA lady: Sir, if you don't take off your shoes you will be subject to additional search.
Me: Ok, so secondary me.
TSA lady: You do understand that it will take a LONG time??
Me: I have the time (I do... lots more time until boarding, no other standing issues and I'm bored).
TSA lady: Ok sir, thank you for your understanding. MALE ASSISTANCE!!!

So I step over, and she flags down a male TSA agent: "Do you have time to screen him?" To which he rolls his eyes and says, "Yes, fine..." I step over to the area (shoes still on feet), and he swabs my shoes. The machine does it's thing, and he comes back, "Thank you sir." A little surprised, I ask "I'm good to go?" "Yes."

Where was my pat down? Where was my wanding? Where were the questions about what I packed and what my doohickey does? (I want compensation! )

I found the results of my experiment very interesting. Seriously, wasn't I supposed to go through a thorough rummaging? Or has PHX TSA figured out how to do it (more) correctly?

I thank you for your time.