Again, not exactly. In my industry (IT), most candidates receive multiple offers within a few weeks of being on the market. They are not waiting for your answer. Within a few days, they often have moved on and accepted an offer somewhere else. That’s why I like to send thank you notes to candidates – it plays well, but it also keeps lines of communication open to help me find out who is no longer available.

This.

Thank you notes or some acknowledgment that the interview had been conducted should be on both sides. The applicants should not be left in limbo state of whether to keep looking and the interviewer should acknowledge that they have reviewed the interview carefully for the job. Problem is that no one is making the final decision on hiring and the company doesn’t want to lose a potential applicant.

Not exactly. In my market, you should feel lucky if you have qualified candidates who apply and show up. Reach out to thank them to distinguish yourself from the other employers who are after them.