We request solutions to slightly harder problems in response to an initial application. Even though this is done at home, it still filters out a large percentage of applicants.

We then do something at the same level at the start of the interview. This filters out about half of the people who have got as far as an interview.

We then do an SQL test, building slowly from "select * from user" to a multi-table with sorting query. This filters out the other half.

We don't hire often.

Anyway, this is a very long-winded way of agreeing with Joel. I meet good programmers all the time - just rarely in interviews.

Alternatively, offering the going rate is too low an offer...