> Take-home technical assignment (~4h) or similar at candidate's choosing
If I can get a similarly-paying job at a place that doesn't do this, I'll skip you.
Many seniors (actual seniors, not 3-years-of-experience seniors) have a network and can say "hey I'm looking" and instantly have multiple options that won't have them do more than talk to the team and manager for an hour or two. If that.
I might be okay with a supplementary assignment (depending) but I definitely need an interview. With an assignment I don't learn much about the team and thus whether I really want to work there.
Maybe that’s your beef, maybe not.
My take on it is slightly different: It could very well be that instead of burnout, you are just missing purpose and meaning in your life. What is the legacy that you want to build for your kids?
Don’t despair. It’s all good. Give yourself props for mastering all but the highest layer of Maslow‘s pyramid. You’ve achieved something most people on this planet never will.
Onto the last one. Good luck with that!