I think it's because anyone qualified to interview is probably qualified to do valuable work. And so companies turn that around and say "Let's take our best an

I think it's because anyone qualified to interview is probably qualified to do valuable work. And so companies turn that around and say "Let's take our best and brightest, and have them interview candidates! Then we'll select the best candidates!" But it's the same research / teaching faculty problem, where one skillset does not imply the other.