I agree, TSA as implemented wastes time and money.
I had an interesting conversation with a German friend, complaining about airport security. My position was that there will never be another 9/11 because the passengers would stop it, now that we know what they're likely to do. He disagreed, but I countered that it already happened: Flight 93. He replied, "Yes, but those were Americans."
It caught me short. But it was not long after that when the gunman on the train to Paris was taken down by three passengers - all Americans. Apparently nobody else on the train was going to resist at all.
I visited the Flight 93 Memorial yesterday. Its a great reminder of the American can-do spirit.