> I'd rather not risk the parcel with my device getting lost in the post or stolen
I think the risk of that with mainstream parcel carriers is pretty low. But I understand the hesitation, for sure.
> getting refused entry and being deported (and thus, losing the many thousand dollars one needs for a vacation in the US) for being "suspicious".
I have no idea what does or does not mark you as suspicious enough to be denied entry, so I can't comment on that. But if it's a vacation trip, then do you need to take electronic devices at all? Aside from a cell phone, anyway, but if you're concerned about the device being compromised, surely that cell phone doesn't have to be the one you use when you're in your home country.
Anyway, I'm not arguing with you even a little, and I hope I'm not coming off as unsympathetic. At heart, I agree with you that everything you're saying is a real problem that needs real solutions. I'm just looking at how to reduce the problem in the meantime until/unless real solutions come about.
I think the risk of that with mainstream parcel carriers is pretty low. But I understand the hesitation, for sure.
> getting refused entry and being deported (and thus, losing the many thousand dollars one needs for a vacation in the US) for being "suspicious".
I have no idea what does or does not mark you as suspicious enough to be denied entry, so I can't comment on that. But if it's a vacation trip, then do you need to take electronic devices at all? Aside from a cell phone, anyway, but if you're concerned about the device being compromised, surely that cell phone doesn't have to be the one you use when you're in your home country.
Anyway, I'm not arguing with you even a little, and I hope I'm not coming off as unsympathetic. At heart, I agree with you that everything you're saying is a real problem that needs real solutions. I'm just looking at how to reduce the problem in the meantime until/unless real solutions come about.