Home Forward interview questions

Extremely disjointed process with poor candidate experience and lots of red flags. First, was ghosted by the recruiter after initial connection and being told they wanted to schedule a time to talk -- literally didn't hear back for over a week at a time, even when I sent follow-up messages. Then got an unscheduled call. When she realized I felt caught off-guard, she game me the option to do it at another time but told it would be brief just to cover some logistics and details, so I said we could give it a shot -- at which time she looped in the HR Director. The logistics and details included discussing the salary, which she indicated had a cap almost $40K below the posted range. She also shared the process, which was initial review, a writing assignment, two separate 45-minute video interviews, and a finalist interview that would be two additional 45-minute+ panels and a presentation. The next week I was sent the "writing sample exercise" which included assessing where Home Forward might be unintentionally contributing to inequity and a recommendation for one possible solution. What job applicant wants to start by articulating criticism against the prospective employer? And shouldn't offering professional advice for matters related to current business be paid consulting work? Submitted the exercise despite the red flags, heard back a couple of days after when I'd been told they'd reach out about initial interviews with a rejection that indicated it was because they had "received resumes from a number of very highly qualified applicants" and were moving forward with others who "more closely match the qualifications we are looking for." So, why was I asked to complete an exercise that apparently didn't factor into the decision? I asked the recruiter for feedback and a bit more insight on the decision criteria, and have never heard back.

Applied online. Got emailed that I was chosen for an interview. Scheduled an interview time. Interviewed. Got emailed for a follow-up interview/coffee chat. Attended. Got a call offering the position.