> Also if implementing Mult was so straightforward that it can be done so thoroughly (including tests) in under three -hours by a single person that is opening the code base for the first time; Then why had this feature not been implemented already by then by the original project maintainers?
Right. So if interviewers come up with an artificial contrived ("leet") problem, then candidates complain that it's an artificial contrived problem. When they come up with a realistic straightforward problem, then candidates complain that it should have been solved already.
Exactly. That set off my warning bells too.