So... what was the point, again?

Americans are hassled every day when they choose to fly. The alleged purpose of this drill is to ensure would-be terrorists don't gain access to aircraft. But you have to wonder...

Two men taken off a Chicago-to-Amsterdam United Airlines flight in the Netherlands have been charged by Dutch police with "preparation of a terrorist attack," U.S. law enforcement officials tell ABC News.
U.S. officials said the two appeared to be traveling with what were termed "mock bombs" in their luggage. "This was almost certainly a dry run, a test," said one senior law enforcement official.
The two were allowed to board the flight at O'Hare airport last night despite security concerns surrounding one of them, the officials said.
al Soofi was found to be carrying $7,000 in cash and a check of his luggage found a cell phone taped to a Pepto-Bismol bottle, three cell phones taped together, several watches taped together, a box cutter and three large knives. Officials said there was no indication of explosives and he and his luggage were cleared for the flight from Birmingham to Chicago O'Hare.

So... if you're going to allow folks wearing 'bulky clothing' and checking funky luggage to board an aircraft anyway, what exactly is the purpose of all the computerized strip searching and attitude for the rest of the American citizenry? I must be missing something here...