Yes I want to get through security as fast as possible so I can hurry up and wait to be told my flight is delayed or canceled.
I have been in line and no less than six crew members just push their way through. I understand the system in place, but "excuse me" and other civilities go a long way. Is the treatment of the passengers in the security line a hint for what's to come in flight?

No, you have missed the analogy. The case here is comparable to the situation where person #1 gets to the front of the line at Starbucks and then continues to read over the menu board trying to decide among various offerings. Meanwhile, person #2 one back in line is fully ready to order and pay for his standard latte. The most efficient process is for person #1 to encourage person #2 to step to the front of the line so that persons 3,4, etc are not held up more. When person #1 is inconsiderate enough not to do this, it is not wrong for person #2 to move without "permission".

A queue is simply a tool that helps maintain the orderly progression. If altering that queue will enhance the progression, then it should be altered. As long as everyone remains polite and considerate of others around them, it all works out just fine.

I do it if the folks ahead of me are really, really slow or impeding flow of the line. I've been waved forward a couple of times, but if I've got my stuff in the bin and the folks ahead of me are just starting, then I'll move ahead. At one or two airports, TSA has encouraged it.

Likewise, I'll grab my stuff as quickly as possible and get out of the way at the exit.

If the "disgorge" tables are short, however, it really isn't practical to move ahead.

Yes, I do skip people ahead of me if they are having a dickens of a time getting their stuff sorted out.

However, as I refuse to step through the WTMD myself until my stuff is on its way through the x-ray, I am also passed on occasion. In other words, when the x-ray operator is being slow for whatever reason (taking a closer look, pax who don't grasp the concept of bin management, etc.), I wait until my stuff is safely on the belt before going ahead. If someone else is ready to go on through, so be it, and more power to them. I'm not leaving my stuff where it can be stolen, knocked off the belt, etc.

I don't know about anyone else but this skipping behavior to gain 15 seconds makes me nervous. Besides having to deal with the TSA's absurdities I now have to be aware of my fellow pax in what has become a very competitive environment. I am no faster or slower than anyone else but I feel this subtle pressure that I should have all my stuff out and ready to go before I even get to the table or I'll be skipped. I don't like it. I feel that there is an imaginary stop watch pushing me to go faster and faster. Can't we ease up just a little bit? I'm making a clear distinction between me and Ma and Pa Kettle who don't have a clue about what's going on. I think the line between being in a hurry and being rude is a very fine one. Isn't there enough stress in this process already?

If its a matter of less then 20 seconds wait (perception wise), I will wait behind them, double checking if I have everything out. If its more then 20 seconds, I will absolutely go ahead of them, since I am usually ready to go right after they check my ID. No patience for Ma and Pa Kettle trying to delay everyone else.

Another complicating factor is when there are several lines feeding the same WTMD. (At IAD, for example, there may be 2x carry-on x-ray machines which have their own lines, but only one WTMD between them.)

I've watched people try to do an "alternating merge" between the lines, which is a bit silly, as well as people insisting on waiting right in front of the WTMD for the rest of their party, holding up the people from the other line who could/should be "going ahead" of the slowpokes.

I admit I skip from time to time. I do give the pax in front some chance to be ready but if looks to be really slow then I'll pass. The other time is the rare times I'll miss the flight if I don't jump ahead, in which case I'll politely ask. I'm happy to reciprocate if others ask me.

The issue isn't just saving me 15 seconds. It saves everyone else behind me 15 seconds also. In a loooong line, if enough people do this it can save many minutes for those at the end.

Why? Does your ego take a hit when someone else passes you? If so, then I suggest you be ready to go... if not, then what's the big deal about getting passed?

The "no skipping" attitudes on this thread sound a lot like some of the behaivor I see on the road all the time. Go to pass someone and they speed up to parallel you.

For me it's much less about the "15 seconds" or getting ahead, etc. and more about getting through to get my stuff back together. Awkward understates the feeling of laptop, shoes, jacket, briefcase, roller board and boarding pass balancing in two hands waiting for Joe Snuffy to fish the coins out his pants pocket. The 5 feet of open table in front of Mr Snuffy is even more inviting when trying to balance same in bins at the back end of the table.