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The simple reality of the situation with TSA employees is that it is easier to train them to enforce simple rules with no exceptions than it is to have them use their judgment.
Actually, the TSA policy is (I suspect intentionally) NOT full of simple rules. Instead, it's full of language that pretty much boils down to "Many things are allowed, unless your screener decides they are not." Knitting needles, which were mentioned in several letters, are in this category. They are allowed, but if the screener thinks they are a possible weapon (of course they're a possible weapon, they're long pointy things even if not sharp) then they can be confiscated. There is quite a bit of vague language about the length of allowed circular knitting needles, by the way.
On my recent flight home from Canada, I forgot about the water in my water bottle. I walked through and told them, and my bag was taken off the belt. They told me that they would just take the bottle. I said "No. It is not a disposable bottle. I will drink the water." (I had plenty of time to do this even if the bottle had been full, which it wasn't.) They gave me back my bag and the bottle. I went back through security, stood right by the belt (it wasn't busy), drank the water, put the bottle in my bag, and promptly had my ID and boarding pass demanded again. Even though I had at no time left the sight of any of the screeners. A complete mystery.
Patrick -- As a stop-gap measure while we all continue to behave like sheep, I recommend To-Go Ware's bamboo cutlery. (http://www.to-goware.com/store/cart.php) I have successfully taken it through airport security. Being wood, it's difficult for them to find/notice. The knife isn't very sharp, but it does cut.
I am all for a one-day flying strike.
