Ask HN: Is there an elite level at which the tech interview coding tests stop?

I've recently impressed upon my startup that we don't need to always do "coding tests" of engineering candidates (e.g., if obvious from discussion, past roles, open source, etc.)

And that one way we can stand out from many other companies is by treating prospective new team members collegially, honestly, and humbly (with some earned confidence and bravery). I suspect this will convey and reinforce a good tone for our culture.

I said that some companies, like a certain FAANG, do the coding tests for everyone, perhaps partly because they're huge enough to want objective metrics and standardization, and maybe in some cases also as an institutionalized power move. And they can do it, because they're otherwise attractive enough to many candidates, and can also afford to alienate some candidates.

Early startups are different: There's an opportunity to get a feel for each candidate, and to discuss among the team. And that we should be able to get a sufficient qualitative feel isn't unreasonable: it's just as fair for the candidate to wonder how competent the team they're considering joining, yet we don't let the candidate give us coding tests. And a startup will usually mean less money and prestige, so we're not paying for the right to have interviews be one-sided.

Then I wondered how universal the coding tests really are, among the FAANGs: at what level (or VIP situation, or other circumstances) do any of them not do the coding tests?

If, for example, one of the few inventors of a super-popular programming language/framework/technology were interviewing (with ample public evidence that they're the desired technical caliber), what companies wouldn't insist that they go through the coding test rituals?