[Clubber]

>More senior and skilled people will decline to participate, because they know they can get a better return using the time otherwise spent on the coding challenge to network for more and easier opportunities.

Absolutely this. No top would put up with this unless the company is paying an ungodly sum of money.

[Consultant32452]

I agree with you, maybe it's because I spent so much time consulting. My small project rate is $125/hr. And I've usually got someone lined up who is willing to pay me for whatever free time I can offer. The potential return on your free coding puzzle game would have to be pretty insane to get me to give up real guaranteed money.

A better option might be to just hire me as a consultant for some real ticket of yours and let me work it in off hours. Then we both win.

[Clubber]

I haven't gone through the traditional interview process since 1999, and that's just because I was only a few years in and wanted more money. Every job I've ever gotten since then has been from someone I've worked with before. They tell their boss, they take me out to lunch and it's a done deal.