Using SSH to get the project files is not a good example of a hard to learn skill they need for the job, they should just have provided a zip on a web page or so or sent it directly to the user.

So to me it seems most of the test was just "have you done these trivial things before" rather than test if they can program web apps.

It would be like the carpenter being forced to buy nails and docking them points for now knowing where the closest shop to buy nails in are and taking time to look that up. Of course it is better if some look it up quicker, but its not a core part of the job. Then when they drove there, you gave them a manual stick car, so the ones who were used to automatic fumbled around in the car, also bad look! So now you see carpenters who drove manual were much better, as your biases told you! That is not really the skill you should care about, it is very quick to tell him where it is.