The point though is why would anyone even bother, since no one uses TSA locks as anything resembling legitimate security anyway.

I've never bothered locking my luggage. I figured it would cause more problems than it solves.

I use TSA-approved locks that have a little red indicator that pops up if the lock is opened with a key. You can reset the indicator only if you know the combination.

So, when I collect my bags, I can tell whether they've been opened since I last saw them.

Decoding the combinations (and thus resetting the indicators) on those is surprisingly easy. They're actually great for locksport beginners, the key lock is really easy to pick and the combination is easy to decode, AND they're cheap!