Perfect tips. I always test Magento developper first on a very specific mission with a clear scope and understandable targets, before considering a hiring. It shows everything and never lies on the skills and behaviour.
I really dream about "Youve put your heart and soul into discussing your approach to solving complex Magento scenarios", but you cannot imaging (or can?) how rare such conversations are. :-(
I think it’s important for developers to mention their accomplishments and passions. Some companies have a hard time bringing up these topics, but if you can it will help to set you apart from other candidates.