Wow on the take homes. We have given taken homes that are just slightly more advanced than FizzBuzz. The problem would prompt the candidate to setup a basic build system (at the time in java) and then solve a problem using a couple basic patterns like observer and strategy. There was no real time limit other than we will not have you in for an in person interview until it is completed.

Like FizzBuzz I think the take home worked well as another data point. It easily filtered out people who couldn't follow basic instructions, people who were clueless about Java even though their resume said different, and people who simply didn't care. The problem also gave us something to talk about when the candidate came in for the in person interview.

Overall the problem was dead simple for anyone we would actually want to hire.