It doesn't take long to find comments on HN about how there are plenty of people out there that can do a good interview but can't code their way out of a paper

It doesn't take long to find comments on HN about how there are plenty of people out there that can do a good interview but can't code their way out of a paper bag. The standard solution to this, and I've been on the receiving end of this, is to have someone as a contractor for 3+ months before converting them to full time employee. I'm afraid your approach would mean hiring someone and spending time and money on them before you're sure they'll work out in your organization. Few want to train contractors and firing FTEs after 3 months and change is a dim prospect as well.