I feel like I'm aiding and abetting this kind of shoddy treatment. :/

Yes, me too.

Still, I still kind of snerk at the people who let me keep my shoes on when going through American security--there's an inch of lift in the sole of one of my shoes. I appreciate the kindness of the gesture, but if any shoe ever needed to be examined for security purposes, isn't it the one that's been specially modified to change its shape? I could hide a whole lot in my lift, and just peel back the sole tread to get at it!