Which airport was this? I fly 4-6 times a week and opt-out every single time. Never once been told no. They try to convince me sometimes to go through the scanner but still refuse.

Just insist on a patdown. (The several times I've flown in the past few years, they either let me through the regular metal detector like normal or I go through/around the metal detector for a patdown, which so far hasn't been invasive and I'm certain I could smuggle a ton of crap on my person.)