> This is what really irks me about take home exercises.

The project is simple. In 10 mins I can easily review the project. Are there tests? Is it well-composed? Does it run? Really doesnt take long for a simple project. Since every candidate gets the same project it is pretty easy to determine a good solution from a bad one.

> I would expect a video call where we go over the code together.

Thats what the next step is for.