While I agree that a lot of stuff the TSA does is incredibly stupid (and this new deal isn't exactly a paragon of security), I'm seeing a lot of random meta-FUD

While I agree that a lot of stuff the TSA does is incredibly stupid (and this new deal isn't exactly a paragon of security), I'm seeing a lot of random meta-FUD here. If you actually read the entire article, you will notice a few things: 1) Domestic precheck clearance is free, not $100. 2) International precheck is $100. 3) It is a slight return to 'normalcy' (for some definition of normal), albeit for only a few people for now. It is at least SOMEWHAT a step in a sort-of right direction (not #2, paying $100 for this is bullshit), instead of the typical step in the complete wrong direction we've been seeing from TSA. I can hope, at least, that it will allow some of the people at TSA to see a graceful exit from their strategy of pointless security theater, and a return to cheaper, similarly effective screening. There is a major creep factor with the application you have to fill out though. It's essentially all the information you have to give for a basic background check - 5 years of address and employment information, the works. Also their website is unbelievably poorly formatted, slow, and seems to randomly crash. Bleh.