I have some experience with this, since one of my good friends used to manage theft prevention at a high-end dept store a few years ago.
Theives are ANGRY, sometimes very violent people. If an SA follows a theft out, or demands the merchandise back (not a guard, but the SA) they are frequently hurt, screamed at, and almost always pursued later once the crime is over, even if a cohort of the theif has to come and do it since the theif was locked up! Seriously. SA's are then working in fear they will be accosted in the parking lot, esp after hours, or hurt directly in the store... even have customers blow up at them to get them fired for nothing in retribution.
These theives commonly work in pairs, or more... a lookout, or cohorts that think nothing of running to the theive's aid or hurting the SA while the theif gets away.
When it comes to tethers, I'm alllll for it. It encourages thoughtful buying (the Auntie Anne preztel butter hit home for me!) and less losses from theft. If I truly want to handle or see a bag, I'll let an SA come over and help me. Sure, I may have to wait a moment, but the end product will be better protected, cost less overall, and won't come at the threats of some poor SA who has saved it from a smash and grab.
In other words, kind of closer to environment friendlier!
Theives are ANGRY, sometimes very violent people. If an SA follows a theft out, or demands the merchandise back (not a guard, but the SA) they are frequently hurt, screamed at, and almost always pursued later once the crime is over, even if a cohort of the theif has to come and do it since the theif was locked up! Seriously. SA's are then working in fear they will be accosted in the parking lot, esp after hours, or hurt directly in the store... even have customers blow up at them to get them fired for nothing in retribution.
These theives commonly work in pairs, or more... a lookout, or cohorts that think nothing of running to the theive's aid or hurting the SA while the theif gets away.
When it comes to tethers, I'm alllll for it. It encourages thoughtful buying (the Auntie Anne preztel butter hit home for me!) and less losses from theft. If I truly want to handle or see a bag, I'll let an SA come over and help me. Sure, I may have to wait a moment, but the end product will be better protected, cost less overall, and won't come at the threats of some poor SA who has saved it from a smash and grab.
In other words, kind of closer to environment friendlier!
some customers have really high expectations and forget that the sa is only human. stores only put the cords on bags and other high end products to prevent theft (like many of you have already said) this is out of the sa's control so when i read some of the comments for eg the comment #8 i have a question??? Do you know that when stock gets stolen the customers end up paying more for the product to compensate the loss? Do you really want to pay more for the same product because some bone head went on a stealing spree ? Also as roe said, they can and do sell this stuff how would you feel if you bought something on ebay or anywhere that was stolen. that is just helping the black market and to me thats the same if not worse than buying a fake. 
Sorry but thats just how i feel. i go shopping to have fun and want to enjoy it just like you do but with all those crimanals out and about thats just the way it goes.