Totally agree with this, although I do see some more alternative methods used by non FAANGS (e.g with f5 it felt like they actually tried to determine my actual

Totally agree with this, although I do see some more alternative methods used by non FAANGS (e.g with f5 it felt like they actually tried to determine my actual knowledge as a SWE). But solving a few Leetcodes every now and then (even outside of interviewing season) is probably a very profitable habit.