Pretty much. If you leave and come back at the same level within 2 years they skip it, but I'd been gone for 6 years, and I was coming back 1-2 levels higher (part of the point of interviewing was to determine level). They want to determine if you a.) forgot how to code, which is entirely possible if you've been doing other stuff for a while and b.) have learned something new & valuable that warrants a promotion.

The panel was different, too - my first time around I had 2 algorithm, 2 UI (Javascript), and 1 system design interviews, while the second time was 2 algorithm, 1 behavioral/leadership, and 2 system design interviews. This is probably reflective of the differing role and higher level.

Yea, the "interview" should have been nothing more than a review of past performance appraisals and a conversation to assess motivation/goals/etc.