Excellent post. What I find funny is that I would describe my experience with US airport security for 30+ years (ending on September 11, 2001) exactly the same way. Simply place my stuff in the x-ray, matter of factly walk thru the WTMD, collect my bag, and be on my way.

It's somewhat telling that the frequent flyers on Flyertalk rarely (if ever) mentioned negative experiences with airport security prior to September 14, 2001. From that point on, however, FFs have had issues with airport security. Formation of the TSA (and its gradual takeover of checkpoints beginning in about April, 2002) seemed to intensify the dissatisfaction.

Lots of people claim there was something wrong with airport security - funny how there aren't any posts on Flyertalk from May, 1998 thru August, 2001 supporting those claims.