Well, a lot of times companies, the people hiring, do really want to hire elite engineers.

But the problem is that they don't know how to recognize those types of professionals and don't even realize they don't know it.

And the problem can compound.

Companies think someone is an elite engineer because they come from a place "famous" for hiring elite professionals but that, in fact, is one of those that has no idea what an elite engineer is.

Perhaps, this is a hard problem. Or hard enough at least, if I'm being charitable and trying to excuse bad hiring practices.