I actually went on an interview once in which they asked for my last pay stub as proof of income. I declined and they said they would have to pass on me. A good

I actually went on an interview once in which they asked for my last pay stub as proof of income. I declined and they said they would have to pass on me. A good portion of my previous income was equity. Granted the equity did not pan out but I was making double that in straight income in the job before it. Anyways I doubled down on their attempt at making the information asymmetrical and told them that they have my asking price and that there would be no negotiations on salary, if I had to hand over that information. I submitted my last check, they came back 20% higher than my previous compensation, at which I doubled my salary requirements from my originally stated requirements to take the position and took a position with their competitor before they even responded. After notifying them I was no longer considering the position, they eventually came back and said they would match my original requirement as they where getting desperate, but honestly at that point the well was poisoned. Point being you are right it is asymmetric information warfare and they will use it against you, even if you offer them a poison pill like I did.