First I’ve ever heard of “no TSA locks”
I flew DFW, Doha, Johannasburg, Harare and return with these HD TSA locks and never had an issue.
I also had a spear in my case on return and nobody said a word.
However I did fly back from Costa Rica a few years back with a Yeti loaded with Mahi Mahi & yellowfin tuna; I declared it and customs in Houston was easy as can be, the CBP agent asked me more questions about the yeti than my fish because she was going to buy her husband one for his birthday.
I watched CBP hand my yeti to TSA and boarded the flight from Houston to Austin.
Landed in Austin and the TSA lock was missing, thought it was weird but went home and opened the yeti to find the “TSA has inspected your bag” note inside…. And a 7lbs bag of my Mahi Mahi filets was missing!