[Mister_Snuggles]

This is a really good point! I'd say that the process is a reflection of the environment and the work.

My environment is focused on supporting/enhancing/fixing the commercial ERP system that we use to run our business. There's room for creativity, but at the end of the day it's still about supporting a relatively boring HR/Financial system. Technology is not our core business, but we do invest in it in order to better execute on our core business.

Some people thrive working on these systems and in this type of environment, but others would be bored to tears.

If it does work as a reverse filter like you suggest, I lose out on a really good developer, but the really good developer avoids taking a job that he'd find soul destroying. Overall, that's probably a win.