In that case, I would say 1) Nowadays with high res photos and various types of printers, I do think a pattern could be printed back onto a screw head, 2) there is no way you would be checking this every time the laptop was out of your site, let alone reapplying the polish, 3) there are numerous significantly simpler methods that achieve a better result.
I've never seen anything like that and don't believe it's practical. 3D-printed patterns will not look the same.
> there is no way you would be checking this every time
This entirely depends on your threat model and how much you suspect a tampering at specific conditions. In principle, you could even (automatically?) take a picture of all screws regularly and compare it with the original using some other, trusted device. In the worst case, you will find out about the tampering later, but it's a very different case than not knowing at all, forever.
> there are numerous significantly simpler methods that achieve a better result
What is simpler depends on the threat model and a person. But I don't disagree. For me, Secureboot is not a better method anyway.
I'm not talking about 3d printers specifically, just high precision printers. It's absolutely practical.
> This entirely depends on your threat model and how much you suspect a tampering at specific conditions.
I was talking about you personally, who I assume is a pretty average developer that doesn't have state actors after them.
> What is simpler depends on the threat model and a person.
No, it doesn't. This screws method you describe is inferior for all threat models and persons. It's basically security theater.
> For me, Secureboot is not a better method anyway.
You might not prefer it, but it is objectively a superior method.
