Avman, I've been in and out of DUS quite a bit recently (writing a security policy for a company there, as it happens), but I haven't experienced any unnecessarily intrusive 'pat-downs' - maybe you were just unlucky! I must admit that I can't imagine that going through (virtually) identical scans twice over really adds significantly to my security.
For anyone who thinks that mentioning the presence of an ax(e) in the cockpit is giving away secrets to potential terrorists, try typing "cockpit crash-axe" into Google and see how many hits you get. Security by obscurity never works - a secret known to three people, is a secret no longer.
As usual, the military approach to security involves refighting the war before last. Whatever Osama is planning next, it won't involve hijacking aircraft and flying them into buildings - as was sadly demonstrated in London.