This is a great point I had overlooked. I did once realize that I was interviewing for the same job twice, once as a contractor and once as a direct employee.

This is a great point I had overlooked. I did once realize that I was interviewing for the same job twice, once as a contractor and once as a direct employee. Everyone had been sufficiently close-mouthed about the exact role that I got several phone interviews in before things came to a head. And I realize this is multiplicative, so it probably means every contractor and the original company are each putting up 2-5 postings for the same job.