To take a school grade analogy, a mid-level applicant is likely to get hired with some A (“the best”) and some B (“good”) grade answers. But a very senior applicant will find it difficult to get hired if s/he does not answer every question with an A (“the best”) grade answer.
Very senior applicants are less likely to be considered for mid-level roles because employers perceive them as “too expensive” or more prone to leaving if a very senior role offers them. Unique experience or skill set only helps if it is an exact match for what the employer is looking for (and if it is that unique, it would be rare to find another employer looking for that).