It's an extra bit of information that you wont get from interviewing someone. A lot of people interview well and are good at talking, but can't program worth a

It's an extra bit of information that you wont get from interviewing someone. A lot of people interview well and are good at talking, but can't program worth a damn and they will waste lots of your time and money. I've seen this happen a lot. The fact that someone spends time on the website answering questions shows they are passionate about programming and might be helpful people. Generally these are considered good traits. It would be worthwhile to spend some time figuring this stuff out because it help you make a better choice. Good luck!