[pimlottc]

This is one of those tests where it's a positive if the applicant passes it, but if they don't, you can't really hold it against them. Good for you if you've found one of the true old-school hackers, but not, it doesn't mean they are a bad candidate. Simply a different kind.

It's a pretty easily pattern to fall into - people who work like I do must be pretty smart because I try to do what works best. It's hard to evaluate someone whose mindset and approaches are different than your own. But when you've been around for a while, you realize there are so many different ways of solving problems and areas of expertise that there's no one right answer.

So ultimately, I don't think these kinds of filters are that useful. It's basically a yes or no question, where a "yes" reinforces your existing biases and a "no" doesn't really gain you any information.