This makes sense. If they were #2, then there's always the possibility another position could open up, and who wants to be the HR guy who told the applicant "no

This makes sense. If they were #2, then there's always the possibility another position could open up, and who wants to be the HR guy who told the applicant "no" when you need somebody new next week? Or another position may not pop up. I'm not saying this is the ethical thing to do, only that it makes sense. As with VCs, the answer is never "no", it's more like "not right now" Dude. Three months is way too long. Next time, if you feel like you had a super killer interview, after a week or so reach out to the technical folks you interviewed with. Might have to google around to find them. Thank them for such an awesome chance to interview and ask them when you might be hearing something. That'll get the ball rolling. (But the answer is still probably no -- if you're the one sending the email, odds are they went with somebody else or the position evaporated)