I very reluctently have to agree with thrush in his post above untill common sence returns we must play the system by its own rules and use it to obstruct the burocrats.
What you have to remember is that the security industry is milking us for all they can and the more stupid rules that they can invent the more money they can screw out of the airlines.
The goverment cant stop this because politicly it cant be seen to be "weak" on security by the press who are no doubt put up to some of the stunts we have seen by the people who have the most to make from the security thing.