I know they have told me to put my wallet in the basket at times, which I always ignore and walk through anyways. I see all these baskets with wallets, keys, money etc just sitting there and wonder how much gets "lost".

If the airport one travels through often forces it, put the stuff in your briefcase, computer bag or carryon or jacket first then let them run it through the xray.

Standards? In theory it should help, but that assumes these people would read and follow them. Hah!