I totally agree that in an ideal world, every candidate would get an interview, and the best person chosen regardless of formal education. However, in the real world, you're lucky if you get a real person even looking at your resume.
Choosing the applicants you interview and eventually hire is a major gamble by the company. History has shown them the odds of getting the right person (not necessarily the best in any rated category, but the best for them) is from those with a traditional degree.
