Have you flown on a commercial flight in the last few years?
If so, you may recall signs near the security checkpoints which say things like, [link|http://www.faa.gov/apa/pr/pr.cfm?id=1184|this]:
\ufffd Do not joke about having a bomb or firearm in your possession. Security personnel are trained to react when they hear these words. Penalties can be severe, and can include time in prison and fines.
These rules were in place before 9/11.
The security personnel may have over reacted. She apparently wasn't a threat. But that's not the issue. The security personnel have to be able to do their job whether a potential passenger is a threat or not.
To apparently claim that her not following instructions (according to one report) was OK (since she wasn't going to immolate the people at the checkpoint or on the plane) and thus should be OK to fly is a bit much.
If telling jokes about bombs can get one jail time, then I don't see how not following instructions during a search and missing a flight is such a draconian measure.
Being able to fly from a commercial airport isn't a right.
Your point about not having impartial observers is good. But your arguments about the inferences we can draw based on what we do know don't work too well, IMHO.
My $0.02.
Cheers,
Scott.