The information you provide as part of PreCheck is all stuff the US government already likely posesses on you.

It's really not. You just provide some info that the government already has along with your fingerprints, they do a quick background check, and you're done. Whether you have PreCheck or not, the government knows what flights you've taken because the airlines have to submit their passenger lists. $85 for 5 years of less hassle at security is worth it for anyone who flies even once every 1-2 years.

I'd happily part with the $85 or whatever nominal amount, but I almost never fly through the USA.