FL
No, a narrow minded attitude...or perhaps a refusal to look beyond what is obvious...
Broader experience and knowladge? Or perhaps a dislike of anything that appears to be a slight on aircrew?
If you want an honest opinon, ALL searches are window dressing, nothing more. A determined terrorist will find a way through. Security is a reaction, mostly with an added bit of guess work as to what might get tried next.
There is nothing new about searches of crew, it's been going on for years, long before 9/11, and not only crew either (in the UK) anyone (with a couple of exceptions)who goes airside.
Searches may be window dressing, but if it prevents a terrorist attack, which they have on at least 3 occations that I am aware of, then it's worth it.
By the way, your photos appeared in Police magazine a while ago, and are not what they appear to be. But then, if you don't think in narrow terms there was always that possibility!