Also, it's not about being too good to even try but about being old enough to no longer put-up with corporate non-sense; too much bullshit in a job to put up with as it is. Once you get to a certain age, you learn to prioritize real stuff rather than appearances.

A lot of people will find your questions obnoxious and irrelevant. Ask questions about the candidate's experience in past problems. Asking abstract questions to satisfy your own ego is a narcissistic trait.

That's not the point or context; No one likes "creative" interview questions is what people are saying like this is just a variation of brain teasers from 1990's Microsoft interviews.

I think you've got it backwards. Lots of people who could solve your real world problems with a computer might not have a background in maths or physics and so may not be able to solve your puzzles. They may just feel anxious about appearing stupid in front an interviewer, and annoyed they weren't allowed any downtime in the day.

This is about empathetically understanding the stress levels between both of you would have been miles apart. Unless the candidate had brought up the subject somehow it'd have been nicer to just try to relax them and get to know them informally by asking about them - or better yet letting them do their own thing for lunch if they wanted.

This shows an alarming level of narcissism. I (principal engineer) would definitely not want to work with you.