You don't fly much do you.
I'm sorry to sound patronizing. I had all those same types of concerns at one stage of this game.
Then I lost my wallet and not only did Delta let me onto the plane without ID, the TSA let me through security. I think I even got a free alcoholic bevrage on the plane. All the while my wallet, drivers license, passport and even my tickets were in the back seat of a NY cab.
They don't care. They got paid to put a body in that seat and you give them a body to put there.
Caveats:
Do you look Muslim-y; Or have a Muslim-y name? (This includes anything Turkic, Persian, Arabic, Indus, Native American, African... I'll just say etc.)
I have it on good authority from my friend Rajish that such a condition can have a limiting effect. That's sad really. I'm a globalist and appreciate a cosmopolitan world.
In any event, if you have an anglo last name and a winning complexion that extra letter on the passport won't make a bit of difference.