[watwut]

It just sounds like complete rationalization. That is not how humans work nor how companies work. That is not how interest in things work especially not in work or position.

Yes, it is test of whether you know that social thing. So, if the company is treating it as the test of that, then it is fine. Instead, the parent was almost offended over that "No interest at all, just looking to check another box on his list of credentials. At least fake it!".

> Are they excited about their product? Are they exaggerating? Are they bored when answering? Do they know the basic information on their own web site?

Christ, you are talking with hiring manager at that point. I would not mind him not knowing company web site. Most employees don't actually go there all that often. That person might not even work on that product. Unless we are talking about very small company, people do their small parts of the larger whole.

You are hiring tech person and while cooperation, ability to express oneself clearly and without pointless insults, ability to listen and such are important, ability to guess excitement from someone they don't know much less so. It is not sales position.

[itronitron]

I generally agree with your view, an experienced candidate will be able to figure out a lot of the work environment during the interviews before meeting with the hiring manager. Although I generally have a few softball questions that I ask as either filler or to see how much thought they have given to how their development teams work.