[codatory]

I feel like 7+ interviews is selecting for desperation more than any specific skill or fit. That's still likely to yield decent short/mid-term hires, and if the promotion structure keeps those hires around might be a successful strategy (we will leave the candidate's experience out of value judgement entirely) but it will eliminate an entire class of hires who aren't willing to submit to that amount of free time, energy and expertise for the possibility of future opportunities.