How about we collectively protest these kinds of interview questions. I vote that instead of answering questions, we ask difficult ones to our interviewers. When they protest, we explain "Just making sure I won't be working with idiots".
Remember folks, these companies are getting more from you then you are from them.
> Just making sure I won't be working with idiots.
I think the the interviewer (or company) would probably take this as an insult.
But I do agree with you in that these types of interview questions are pointless. Spitting back an answer verbatim demonstrates nothing.
A neat approach that I've seen people use is to take a you-should-know-this concept such as the merging part of merge sort and put a twist in it, so it isn't a simple spit-the-answer-back, but different enough to require some thought.
Remember folks, these companies are getting more from you then you are from them.