more essays - and more emphasis on essays - doesn't ensure a more well-rounded applicant. It only ensures that the applicant has the best essay reviewers (or in many cases shadow writers).

The intent was understandable, but in practice it was a shortsighted change because essays are literally the only part of the app that an applicant can farm out and not do but have someone else do. And yet the adcom chose to emphasize them more at the expense of minimizing measurables and factors that an applicant can't fudge? Bad way to go about getting a better feel for who you think you are actually accepting.