I think the key point isn't not to automatically sign or not sign non-competes. It's to realize they are a negotiable item (just like salary, stock, vacation,

I think the key point isn't not to automatically sign or not sign non-competes. It's to realize they are a negotiable item (just like salary, stock, vacation, severance, etc.) and to ask for appropriate compensation in return for signing it. This can include a guarantee of salary during the time of its application. You can also narrow the conditions under which they're invoked or the scope of what's considered competition.