I tried to get an invite for one of them using the "IRC interview", and I was berated for not having "studied enough" because I didn't know the detail of some pedantic rule (I think it was about some detail on which format trumps which) and I explained something else in slightly different words.

The entire thing was super-pedantic and super-silly, and a massive turn-off for that community (I didn't try again). As far as I'm concerned there is no good alternative to what.cd.