Well, I finally got burned by TSA. They wound up destroying my hard case Samsonite because some TSA idiot couldn't figure out how to operate the TSA lock built into the suitcase.

Believe me when I say, THERE IS NO REMEDY with these folks. The airlines says it is strictly a TSA problem so they accept no liability. TSA says they are entitled to take whatever measures necessary to open the case, so obviously the lock must've been broken or they wouldn't have had to pry it apart like they did (yeah right). They couldn't care less about my loss, that's not what they get paid to do. They are "agents of the government, accountable to no one", or so I was finally informed.

Fortunately I was smart enough to buy it at a Costco, so I will just take it back and get my money back. Thanks to their unconditional refund policy, I always have a means of hedging against the incompetence/contempt of those in authority for such things. Dealing with the Costco employees is far less strenuous and much more productive than engaging TSA employees in an argument which I can never win.