[HIDEK6]

the solution that the TSA agent came up with is that she should give her drafting tube to the complete stranger who was behind her in line

I find this extremely difficult to believe. What about the rule about having your baggage under your own control throughout your travel experience?

[Daus]

I find this extremely difficult to believe.

So did I. And yes, the more important rule than the number of bags rule, is the 'don't take bags from strangers' rule. But that is the kind of decision making going on everyday at the airport. The TSA agent would have got yelled at for having someone show up with that many bags, but no one would be the wiser if he split them up.