[jfarmer]

It sounds like we've just had differing experiences. The lightbulb question is a good one.

In my experience, however, most questions are either riddles which you get or don't, or so contrived they'd be easier to explain formally. Good story problems are like rare gems.

Beyond that, phrasing something as a story doesn't solve the problem of people nitpicking, it just changes what they nitpick about. Just read the comments on a blog I wrote a year ago about the lightbulb puzzle: http://20bits.com/articles/interview-questions-two-bowling-b...

For me it boils down to this: I'm interested in good problem solvers, not good puzzle solvers. Being able to solve puzzles is at best a weak indicator of being able to solve problems. I'd rather spend my time looking for stronger signals.