I think the real issue today is one of consistency in policing all safety rules/regulations and the lack of common sense in a lot of them.
A year or so back I checked into an AA flight to JFK and was asked to hand over any lighters/matches etc.. I did so and then went into W.H. Smith airside, bought another and took it on board with me!
One of many regulations which when looked at in terms of the whole flight/waiting/access point of view make no sense whatsoever.
Just my $0.02.
Duncan