I'm surprised good programmers have the time/patience for 6 interviews. I think 3, maybe 4 is my max. If you can't figure out my skills in that amount of time, your process is broken.
I also disagree that interviewing is not a technical challenge. For most programmers it is. There are very few who can breeze through FAANG-level technical interviews.
2 total interviews. Maybe 3 if they have questions. But if they have questions, they should have figured it out between the first and second interview.
For me, if the 2nd interview is not me talking to someone from their company that I might work with and if I cannot ask questions about the problems they solved, their approach to programming or building teams (depending on their role), I just say to the recruiter that I'm not interested.
The only reason why I'd come somewhere is if I like the engineers or if I'm in need of money. If I need the money, I won't ask a thing.
I also disagree that interviewing is not a technical challenge. For most programmers it is. There are very few who can breeze through FAANG-level technical interviews.