yup -- there is absolutely zero continuity between airports, and even single
agents

before you needed the boarding pass to go to the gate i'd routinely print an
itinerary from an airline web site, and confidently present it with my license
- so i could meet my mom at the plane or see someone off. not once did they
check to see it was a PAID itinerary, or ask why i didn't even have a small
carry on with me.

from my experience the TSA agents are exactly like an airline gate agent, or
bank teller, from the aspect how thorough they are depends on their mood at the
time.

if i need a fee reversed in my checking account and told no, i just call again
and another agent might do it.

some airports need tickets and i.d. to get to gates, other just tickets.

i have more hassle at grand rapids, michigan visiting family, then denver or
los angeles. probably less people pass thru, hence more scrutiny for each one.
but again no consistency.