Some people have no idea what battery chemistry is in their laptops. Especially for models where the battery isn't even removable. I don't mean this as a criticism, it's just not necessarily something that everyone notices.

Are you saying there are laptops with batteries that don't fall in this dangerous category, or are you saying people don't know that all laptop batteries fall in this category?

There are people who think their laptops do not have a battery at all and run on their own power like a human does.

...well, I didn't see that one coming!

I know people that still believe that the power for cordless drills gets transmitted from the charger to the drill via something like wifi. They're super-careful not to stand in the LOS between the drill and the charger.

Some people probably shouldn't operate power tools. Then again, with that level of caution, they are probably safer than many "experts".

Yea, I think this is really the crux of it. The GA nor the pax know whether or not a battery or device is Li-ion.

Edit: or I guess if it was just a battery they could read on it but I bet that never ever happens.

I definitely hear the announcements a lot... whether or not they follow up "e-cigarettes and spare lithium batteries" with "and other electronics" or "such as those found in personal electronics" is very hit and miss.

At my regional airport they just hand out the tags and don't ask any other questions or offer any other guidance to each individual passenger. It's just the one main blanket announcement.

I think unless they are checking for them to the same extent that they are checking for liquids and weapons in carry on it is likely that plenty of people aren't following the rules either intentionally or from ignorance.

Security theater