[MineralMan]

"Try this one on for size:
my 60-year mother-in-law wears a prosthetic leg, and they regularly require it to be removed and searched at airports.

They have no idea the pain and inconvenience this causes.
And it clearly serves no useful security purpose.
If you know of a single instance of 60-year-old females hijacking planes let us know.
"

That's a tough one. Prosthetic legs would make great hiding places for explosives or drugs. No, your Mom-in-law is probably not a terrorist, and I don't know of any 60-year-old women who have hijacked planes. In fact, since 9/11, I don't know of anyone who is hijacking planes. I do know that elderly folks are being used as mules for drug smuggling, though. The prosthetic leg could hold a lot of cocaine or heroin. I don't know your Mother-in-law, and neither do the security folks.

I don't have an answer for this one. It's probably policy to check these prosthetics in all cases.

[TexasCowboy]

I traveled ONE time in my regular Western clothes - boots, hat and Western belt buckle.
Mistake!!
My boots came off at every check point along with my buckle, and my $1000. Silver Belly Stetson had so many grubby handprints on it that it was totally ruined!
I don't care if the airlines go completely broke.
I only fly when I absolutely have to, and then I go as naked as I can.