Bally Heck
Where do these morons who govern us get their brains from?
Managers and politicians always prefer to buy hardware. They like toys that they can see. Lots of whirring and flashing lights is always preferable to the really hard graft of human interface.
Dogs are cheaper and more user friendly and, I should not be surprised, more efficient because their noses don't get bored looking at a screen and, even if they are not looking at the target - their nose is still working. BUT - they will always buy machines that hold out the ideal of being fair and equal and impartial and blah blah blah.
The manufacturers do not need a slush fund. They only have to invent it - and it gets bought. The equivalent is arms makers. They simply invent a more efficient rifle/bullet/grenade and the military are salivating to have it. I expect that many airport managers are thrilled at being compelled to buy this stuff. I did work in IT for 25+ years and have seen the way hardware attracts them.