Airline "status" may help you in boarding but not with security. TSA is the show the government puts on to make you think you are safe.
All most passengers want is a cheap ticket. Service dose not sell very well, so therefore, despite what the airlines may say, it's not a serious goal for them.
For those with connection problems, always carry a smart phone of tablet to give you access to your reservation record. You can easily see if the airline has made any "protection" changes due to a mis-connect but also you can make whatever changes you may see as necessary. Always make changes working with your original reservation record, and you should be OK. Most airlines will accommodate changes caused by "irregular operations" without any change fee.