I can think of half a dozen ways to attract applicants in a way that'd significantly increase the quality of the applicants while at the same time significantly

I can think of half a dozen ways to attract applicants in a way that'd significantly increase the quality of the applicants while at the same time significantly decreasing the number of the applicants. See, you are assuming a basic process of a job board and anyone applying for the position. I am saying you are so entrenched in mediocrity that you can't fathom there are much better ways. I will say this though - they all require a fundamental shift from 'fill seats with people for minimum amount of pay, to do uninteresting work, with least amount of complaining' to actually giving a shit about people you work with, yourself, and your life :)