Did you try to interview at companies paying $80k to senior engineers? Low status companies tend to have more normal interview processes, many don't even ask you to code before hiring you. This way you can get similar pay and interviewing as people get in other fields.

Not a viable wage in Southern CA these days; have not seen an ad at that rate in any case.

Guess the gist is that bottom of the barrel jobs have easier interviews. I could buy that.