Couple of interesting points:

The one time I've crossed into the US on the ground with 5 people in a van we didn't have to show a single piece of ID.

Of the times I've travelled home from a T-Con, I've not had to display a single piece of ID until I got home, twice (damn customs). I believe those trips each had a single stop over in the US to boot. Of all the times I've travelled to the states with a canadian stop-over, I've always had to show my ID when collecting my ticket and before boarding the plane.

Though, on my last business trip into the states while carrying a server packed into my suitcase, I did get to go through two "random" searches on the way there. Once in Canada and once in the States.

Not exactly a wealth of experiences, but those of you that cross the border/travel more often, do you get similar results?

I prefer to see a more open environment between the US and Canada. Given how easy it is to slip across the border, what difference does it really make? How much of the border is actually patrolled?

I'm pretty sure that you won't get into either country from abroad without a passport. So, even if a terrorist gets into Canada, they're most likely going to have a passport with them, no? The only people that are really going to be affected then, are the ones that have to lug around a passport with them instead of two pieces of ID.