Humblejohn-you are misinformed. You can carry on a rollerboard, PROVIDED THAT you also comply with TSA's carry-on rules regarding liquids, gels, aerosols. Check out their website at
www.tsa.gov.
Remember: travel size toiletries, 3 oz. or less, in ONE clear, ziplock plastic bag. You take the plastic bag out at the security checkpoint, put it in a bin, and have it x-ray screened. This does not include any liquid medications you may have that are greater than 3 oz. those liquid prescription medications should be in a plastic bag, ready for inspection by the screeners, with your name on the prescription-if the names don't match, you're going to have a problem. If you are female, then powders, powder eyeshadow, and powder blush, are fine-they are not included in the above categories.
Other than the aforementioned restrictions, you can carry-on anything you like, provided your luggage meets the size dimensions of the air carrier for carry-on luggage.
The air carriers DO NOT set security regulations regarding what can and cannot be permitted through the screening checkpoint-the carriers must strictly comply with TSA, which is the only entity authorized to make security regulations for the air carriers to follow. If you are in doubt as to what is a permitted item, you must consult the TSA website. The air carrier website will generally direct you to the TSA website, except for size dimensions of carry-on luggage.
And no, I wouldn't say things in the aviation security arena are "nearly back to normal" - the restriction on liquids, gels, and aerosols will be more or less permanent, and more restrictive carry-on measures, as well as checked baggage restrictions, can go into effect at any time.
Out of Europe back to the US, you will see that you will go through more security checks than I have ever seen in my decades of traveling abroad, so you need to allow yourself plenty of time, 3 hours or so, to go through the security checks and maybe have a bit of time to shop in duty-free on your inbound flight to the US.
I went through no less than 4 security checks this past week in Brussels for my Delta flight to New York, the entire sterile corridor serving the American air carrier gates inbound to the US was blocked off, including the place to buy coffee, as well as the moving walkway. Each passenger on a US bound flight had to do the arms and legs outstretched personal pat-down. Not exactly conducive for encouraging you to fly again, but absolutely necessary-the focus of the security threat is Europe to the US, not the other way around.