> We pretend it’s about identity verification when really it’s about priority in getting through security faster.

It's exactly this - a shorter line you can pay for under the guise of technology.

Notably, the line-skipping benefit to users only exists if a minority of people use it. If it becomes widely used, it degrades to the old state of affairs (i.e. waiting in line behind all the other CLEAR users). Without actual increases to throughput of the TSA checkpoint, it's only temporarily beneficial to early adopters as everyone else catches up. And when we're done, a private company has gathered loads of facial recognition data, CLEAR flyers paid for the privilege of giving it up, and they still have to wait in line.

> the line-skipping benefit to users only exists if a minority of people use it

Which is what the price gate confers.

The author suggests that the program is sold on the basis of not requiring ID. This is untrue.

> author suggests that the program is sold on the basis of not requiring ID. This is untrue

But it is a benefit. I have flown without ID on account of losing it. Without Clear, TSA concocted an opera out of the matter. With it, it was entirely unremarlable.

The benefit is being able to leave your ID in your pocket/bag. It is not to be able to travel without ID. You are describing an edge case, not a reason a frequent traveller would opt to purchase Clear. (Fwiw, I understand this edge case, I’ve flown to Canada from the US w/o a passport because I could show the gate agents my Nexus card, but this is not a feature of having Nexus. The same logic holds for Clear.)