Why would the US be concerend with self service desks?
The bags still go through the same process....and self service is available accross the US!
While online and self-service checkin is common in the US, I haven't seen many instances where the bag-drop portion is automated. Though it looks like that is beginning to roll out. Typically when you drop your bag in the US they insist on matching your photo-ID to your boarding pass. This hasn't happened at the self serve bag-drop points that I have used in Europe. Obviously, this could be done, by performing checks in the line along with the usual ICTS(sp?) checks that they tend to perform for US bound flights. However, the system seems to be currently set-up for single airline at-a-time per desk/group of desks. To really achieve the efficiencies that the airport would like, you need to move everything but special situations to truly common use, i.e. anyone can use any machine. A slightly less efficient would be group all the US departures together. Further, in the case of pre-clearance, if the system is similar to DUB they photograph your bag on check-in, and you are asked to match it in Immigration. I can imagine that some groups who are travelling together but not family could have issues with this part.