So if you're after the FAANG money, you have to play the FAANG interview game. If you're unwilling to play the FAANG interview game, then maybe you shouldn't be pursuing FAANG money.

It's not just FAANG that do these interviews anymore.

Tiny startups do them now as well.

Doing FAANG interviews is a necessary, but not sufficient condition to getting a FAANG salary. As others have said, non-FAANGs are trying to do FAANG interviews, and I would tell them to pound sand.