Do you believe there that the idea of finding "the most qualified candidate" is a realistic expectation? Hiring is a highly subjective and qualitative process with a very slow, weak feedback loop.

How does your company iterate on the criteria used to find the "most qualified" candidate, especially without some way to compare the theoretical performance of the candidates you turned down to the real performance of the one you hired?

There is almost always more than one highly qualified candidate.

Looking through non-traditional channels for talent does not mean you are lowering your standards.

Claiming that standards are being lowered without any evidence is actually super racist.