8 years ago, only a few people were saying "this is just a knee-jerk reaction. It's meaningless. It really won't do anything."
8 years later, a shoe bomber was caught - not by the TSA, but because vigilant people on the plane were willing to fight for their lives. An underwear bomber was caught. A shoe bomber was caught. NOT by the TSA, but by fellow passengers unwilling to go down without a fight.
But, 8 years ago, the majority said "I don't care if it's invasive. I'd rather give that up to know that I'm safe in the plane." And, the only thing that has made them safer is their fellow passengers, not the TSA. As the guy in charge of El Al said - he could walk right through our scanners, our pat-down, and have enough explosives on him to take down a 747.
And, since the TSA only reacts to previous threats (under the assumption that terrorists will try the same thing again) it's just a matter of time before someone pulls a detonator out of his rectum, the fellow passengers jump him, and the rest of us have to bend over when we pass by the TSA at the terminal.
Look at the possible size of breast implants. Imagine a female terrorist decides to get implants of plastic explosives. Well, if they get caught before detonating... then some of you might want to consider being TSA agents.
