Sure. Where did he say he didn't do that?

US: Rule is non-thin laptops go in a separate tray. Tablets and super-thin laptops can stay in the bag. But, this is enforced inconsistently.

Europe (UK, Ireland, Italy, and Iceland): Separate tray every time I've passed through in the last 4 years.

I have a backpack where the sleeve for the laptop pulls out completely from the backpack itself but stays attached with "rails" to prevent theft. I've never had an issue with this and never needed to place the laptop in a new tray. I fly once a month round trip in the US.

True enough, I forgot about the TSA bags with flip-out sleeves.

Not necessarily. My backpack, for example, has a laptop compartment that folds out flat. I don't have to remove my laptop, just send my backpack through.

I've had some TSA folks tell me to do that and some say I can leave it in my bag.

It was.