So, I was told today that I am, basically, too old to be considered for a particular job

[Major Nikon]

26. I have a completely different take on it

For one thing, the person giving the interview wasn't being honest, they were being ignorant. They were obviously ignorant of the law, which is extremely common. So they weren't doing this person any favors by being candid. They were admitting they broke the law because they weren't smart enough to follow it.

Next, this behavior is illegal. I have zero sympathy for companies that break the law. The ADEA only applies to companies with 20 or more employees, which means it applies to companies that have the resources to know better. Even if they aren't large enough to have dedicated employees who are experts in employment laws, there are still plenty of companies they can hire to train their employees in how to follow the law. There is no good excuse for failing to comply with the law.

If this company gets a big enough settlement against them, yes it will probably change the way they do business. If they are smart, they will simply follow the law. As you said, they may choose to try and hide their illegal activities. Many employers do, but those employers risk even bigger judgments against them for a willful violation. It's one thing to be ignorant of the law. It's quite another to be aware of the law and break it anyway.