It's also a perverse incentive for the airport to not improve security times. The less predictable the security experience is, the earlier people have to show up, and the more time they spend getting hungry airside.
There seems to be a deliberate fog of war around travel requirements. The specifics of the rules are different everywhere (take my shoes off? belt off? laptop in my bag or out of my bag? ...). Which is slightly annoying in itself but what is really annoying is the lack of explanation of what those specific requirements are at any one airport. Which means inevitably being yelled at by security staff, feeling stupid, setting off scanners accidentally etc. It's all very unpleasant.
With lack of signage by TSA to describe the airport-specific rules. Makes TSA folks appear busy by seizing my water bottle after arriving int'l and getting caught by TSA for onward flight. And specific taxes pay for this bureaucracy.
And you take them seriously, until you take a flight in Argentina and they tell you you can take aboard as much water you want ahhahaah
omg, you say, will be a safe flight? hahaha
of course.