Some of us have outstanding CVs, graduated top of our class, and several high quality letters of recommendation. Are interviews really necessary in all cases?

An interview is much more than an allotted time spent with one or more interviewers whereby questions are asked and answered.  It is a time when first impressions are formed and your character is judged.
Your image, hand shake, body language, wardrobe, ability to carry on a conversation, ability to introduce yourself confidently – all of these things will contribute to the overall impression you make during your interview.  From the moment you arrive to the moment you leave, your “package”- how you look, what you say and how you behave – will be judged