The vast, vast majority of companies don't need "the absolute best talent." Their product is a JSON interface to someone else's service. You don't need John Car

The vast, vast majority of companies don't need "the absolute best talent." Their product is a JSON interface to someone else's service. You don't need John Carmack to write that. Companies comically overestimate the level of talent they actually need, and let positions stay open for months, sometimes years, looking for that unicorn programmer they don't actually need, and passing up hundreds of candidates who would work out fine.