@Linkat,
Sure you should have applied. Back in the '80s most of the aerospace and defense contractors were constantly interviewing. Not hiring, but interviewing. That was their way of finding out what the competition was paying and what they were doing. This is your opportunity to find out what
they are doing and what
they are like. You can learn a lot about a company just from how they treat people who are looking for work.
I'm not saying you should accept an offer, but go learn about them.