Please don't flame me - I entirely sympathise with the sentiments above - but is it really practical to examine every metallic pen that might conceal a blade (you can buy one from the "Innovations" mail order catalogue) or to detect a non-metallic blade, as I understand the comb/knife was?
I accept whatever increases in check-in time would result from more thorough searches - would everyone? What would the impact be on passenger numbers, terminal capacity/costs and eventually airport charges, etc.
By the way, I have one leg shorter than the other by 3 inches, and wear a boot with special cork raising and an iron caliper. The iron gets caught at every airport (except Athens, pre-Lockerbie - I presume they turned down the detectors to avoid interruptions to the security guys' routine). I always get searched, quite rightly, but never have had to remove my boot or have it examined. What if the 3-inch raising were made of something else?
I have also walked into the House of Commons (to meet an MP), explained why I set off the alarm, and been waved though presumably as a courtesy on having an obvious limp. I thought of writing a "Day of the Jackal" -type story hinging round that episode. There are no doubt other routes not yet explored by terrorists. Could they all be stopped?