This is totally idiotic. It’s going to make flying so difficult and unpleasant that people will do anything to avoid it, and it won’t stop terrorists at all.
As you point out, better enforcement and more stringent policies relating to people already under suspicion (and, IMHO, any Muslim or person from a Muslim country) would help. Also, if they’re worried about explosives, just have everybody go through that explosive detection device. It would slow things down a bit, but it would be nowhere near as unpleasant as sitting there like a stone, unable to hold anything in your lap (presumably, this also means a book or newspaper), not having pillows or blankets, and not even being permitted to go the restroom.
This is complete idiocy.
“and not even being permitted to go the restroom.”
That could get real ugly (and smelly) real fast.