I have had options in three startups and have never seen a penny. I am now convinced that options are a con trick. Founders would make far better hiring choice

I have had options in three startups and have never seen a penny. I am now convinced that options are a con trick. Founders would make far better hiring choices if they had to give real stock. Employees, too, would make far better hiring choices if each new employee diluted their stock (especially if all employee stock came from one significant pool,say, 25%): do you dilute to complete or work even harder to keep your share? This question would motivate staff as much as it would motivate founders not only to create a successful company but to hire the kind of people who would see it through. It would also show a level of trust that, generally, would be repaid. If people did leave, keeping the stock, you may have made a hiring mistake (or some bad luck) but you will still have a champion who will help bring goodwill, customers and new staff.