I agree with you re the states way too much hard work and damage to your property combined with rude and unhelpful immigration agents!!! As for the tsa lock i know its painful but think yourself lucky, as crew i purchased a top of the line samsonite hardcase only to pick it up in syd after a flight from sfo to find all three of its locks jimmied open(unfixable because they damaged the actual case) and the bag taped up with gaffa tape despite the locks being tsa approved.. then opening the bag to find a pathetic letter stating your bag got searched if we damaged it too bad....
Its totally wrong that they can take your personal property which is quite frankly stealing no matter what safety spin you put on it, however there really isnt anything we can do..