If you read the department's annual report, there's a bit in there somewhere from the DGS which talks about changing the admissions process: https://english.princeton.edu/news/english-publishes-2022-23-annual-report
It depends on the program. As you say, if you don't get an interview with Princeton, then, unfortunately, you won't be getting an offer. But other programs don't do interviews. The trouble is that sometimes programs change their admissions process. For example, Princeton only started doing interviews last year. We just have to sit tight and endure the excruciating wait. Good luck!