[dimal]

Agreed. It's very demoralizing to know that you are extremely capable of doing the job, but since you don't satisfy the narrowly defined fitness function you're being passed into, you fail. But more than that, companies are missing out on great people that may simply have a different way of thinking that isn't accounted for in their structure.

[randomswede]

My take-away from interviewing is that as a candidate, getting a "you did not get the job" doesn't change anything. Since I've had the privilege of mostly being employed while interviewing for new jobs, this is a "meh, status quo" thing. Nothing changes, I have no decisions to make. If I get an offer, I have a decision to make.

Does it sting when I get a "No"? Yes, a little, but I did my best and (presumably) someone else did better. So, I take solace in that I did not have to make a (relatively large) decision.