The fundamental problem with take homes is that they produce a huge asymmetry in the cost of interviewing. The company can waste hours of random people's time w

The fundamental problem with take homes is that they produce a huge asymmetry in the cost of interviewing. The company can waste hours of random people's time without having to spend a single minute on them. So while I understand that paying someone for a take home complicates things for some individuals, some kind of contractual agreement that the company will reciprocate some amount of good faith effort is necessary to avoid abuse. Payment is basically a proof of work, and money deposited in my account is a sure way I know of that a company expended some resource on my part. I'd say that even just offering to pay standard contract rates would make me more likely to actually do a take home.