The US particularly is extreme in this regard. The TSA has become such a large employer that it's now unthinkable to scale it back. 9.11 was of course tragic,

The US particularly is extreme in this regard. The TSA has become such a large employer that it's now unthinkable to scale it back. 9.11 was of course tragic, but that problem was solved by locking the cockpit door. And yes, no-one wants to be on a plane with an explosive device, but those are really rare. Not least because that same device is easier to use, with more effective results, in pretty much anywhere else. And after all that money spent, it's unclear that the TSA would actually prevent any serious attack. Outside the US things tend to be a lot more relaxed. (So much so that special checkpoints are arranged for flights to and from the US to conform to US requirements.)