Pseudo security and a lot of hassle

 
A while ago I discovered that the U.S. Postal Service introduced a new rule: packages weighing 13oz (370gr.) or more and paid for by stamps have to be mailed at a Post Office counter. You can't just drop such a package into a mailbox.

I was curious about this regulation, which is described by the Post Office as a "security issue". So I sent an email to the USPS and asked why?
Here is the response (with the names edited out):

Dear X,

I understand you want to know why items over 13 ounces must be taken to a Post Office for mailing.
If you use our Click-N-Ship service or another PC provider to create postage online you will not need to visit the Post Office personally. These postage options will identify you as the sender, where postage stamps are anonymous.
The weight limit is for security purposes. When mailing a package, the window clerk will ask any questions which may be applicable to the package and for any security concerns. Please click on the following link for full information. You may also want to click on the hyperlink for 'frequently asked questions': ....

So now we have to take those packages to the Post Office. Do you feel safer now?

I don't and this is why:

Let's assume that a someone (not me) wants to harm somebody else and send them a bomb - this happened before and is not an outrageous proposition. How did this new rule make the recipient safer? It limited the amount of explosives (if this is what the bad guy wanted to use) to less than 13 ounces. Does the Post Office know how much damage can be caused by 12 ounces of PETN or other high explosives? To destroy a car you would need less than 12 ounces - 5 would probably be enough. To kill or seriously injure a person you would need even less.
You may think that limiting the amount you can mail anonymously will reduce the danger of major explosions. But will it?
When you go to a Post Office and give your heavy package to an employee it will be mailed without any further questions, the worst that can happen is you being asked a couple of polite questions (didn't happen in my case). They will still have no clue who you are and what is in the package. A terrorist (if this is the target of these new regulations) would likely NOT mail the package from an office they visit regularly (if they live in the U.S.) so even the fact that somebody may recognize them is irrelevant.
The real question is WHY? Why do we need these regulations that are a hassle and don't add to our security?
Well, we the people don't need them. The government does: if their aim is to make the stupid people feel safe this kind of hassle may make sense. The problem is that most people are not stupid and a false sense of security is worse than none. We are stuck with the hassle with no added benefits. The government thinks that we are really stupid.