To respond to your point on being asked about weaknesses: I've always taken the honest route. I've given reasons like "hard to find motivation if I don't find the project interesting" and I've found they've gone done quite well (I think I've only been turned down for < 5% of interviews I've done in the past 10 years).

The caveat though: explain to the interviewer that you're being vulnerable. I always make it clear that I hate those "strengths presented as weaknesses" bullshit and then explained that I'm going to be 100% honest. People seem to connect with it.