I truly believe that most mainstream companies don't really want "top talent" so much as they want to control their talent, hence why we don't have any option to work under 40 hours a week.

Well you don’t run a company of 100+ employees on “top talent” you need maybe 1 top talent guy per 50 worker bees.

But to get worker bees you have to lie that you hire only the best, make them jump through the hoops and the hoops or 2+ hours grilling is justified because you hire only the best. Just to select most obedient ones that will put up with your shenanigans.

So you run the company on the processes not on people as they are replaceable cogs.

Maybe it's different in the US but everywhere I've worked has been fine with me working 4 days a week. Normally I ask after I've started there rather than during the job interview.