Turning away a qualified candidate isn't the bad outcome for a hiring process - hiring an unqualified worker is. So if the trade off for avoiding the latter is some of the former, it is arguably worth it (and Thiel is likely in a good position to know what the appropriate ratios are)
I am so tired of hearing that argument. There is not a line of super qualified people banging on your door to get a chance to interview at your company.
Unless your are google or facebook, you are not going to be able to just turn away qualified people. It makes it too easy for your competition.
