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Here's the thing, Max. It would be worth it if the annoyance served a purpose. When we know otherwise, it's not. You being 'realistic' about it is all fine and good, but it's hard for some of us to sit by and watch our privacy invaded, our time wasted, and our tax dollars spent on people who think they are 'doing good,' but are only serving to irritate the innocent. If this waiting period were to buy a gun instead of fly a plane, would you be so eager to defend it? If this search were for permission to do something as plebian as drive a truck, would you be going on about how the officers were just doing their jobs?

"but are only serving to irritate the innocent."

While it is true that they irritate the innocent, including me lots of times, I do think they help discourage hijackers a little. Probably more important than actually preventing terrorists attacks, they make the faint at heart more willing to fly again, since all the security gives the illusion of something important being done. It is important for our economy that at least the illusion of safely is given so that more people fly and get about their business. If I had my druthers, I would fly on an airline that did no searching and allowed everyone to fly armed to the teeth, but that is not going to happen.

Probably the most important reason for all the security is so that when the next terrorist attack occurs, the politicians can all say that they were doing everything possible to make the sky safe.

Given all that, I still say that a woman who goes through security and then demands to see the regulation that allows her to be patted down is a nitwit.