Have you been involved in the hiring process? Most of the people actively looking for work don't have a job for a reason. It's not 'insulting' to see if you can even vaguely do the job in an interview.

There's only so much vetting you can do before the 'can you vaguely code your way out of a wet paper bag' step.

Also: you didnt used to work in Boulder recently, did you?

Remember those people in college who contributed nothing to the group project, but still somehow squeked by with a C? Those people now have jobs, and some have impressive resumes, particularly from .gov contractors where less than mediocrity reigns unfettered.