A surprising amount of companies do not (or pay them a symbolic amount) and think it is completely normal. It's ridiculous, but it happens nonetheless.
Yes
I have no idea why you're being downvoted for this.
Thanks for the downvotes for literally posting a question I've asked interns in the past. Always important to remember the reflexive cultural conservatism of HN's audience.
Have you gotten any meaningful answers from your interns?
Yes
Now you've really piqued my interest. If you're able, please tell me more about the kind of answers you got.
I didn't down-vote you, but I should mention that your first post's phrasing led me to assume you were making a snarky critique of current culture, rather than sincerely answering the question.
I don’t think it’s actually snarky at all, though.
Based on how you intended the post to be read, I agree it's not snarky.
Taking the post to be snarky was one fundamental aspect of my misinterpretation.
One reason the site guidelines ask you not to complain like this about downvotes is that often, by the time the dust settles, people have given more upvotes. Then in addition to being off-topic, the complaint is misleading.