[tangentspace]

I interviewed at Palantir last month, and the process is still very similar to what you've described. However, regarding the last point, after the product demo they did directly address the potential for misuse of the product.

They described a culture that encourages asking hard questions, and doing the right thing in ethically complex situations, even if that meant turning down a business opportunity. It came across as frank and sincere, and I didn't get any sense they were grooming for a cult, more that they were looking for people who were smart and passionate.