I've heard/seen so many cases where equity compensation for ICs in startups were drastically devalued/"diluted"/rendered-unsaleable to ever consider a startup's

I've heard/seen so many cases where equity compensation for ICs in startups were drastically devalued/"diluted"/rendered-unsaleable to ever consider a startup's equity compensation unless they acknowledge that an individual taking below market cash compensation is an early stage investor, and their equity grants should be the same class as other early investors, and have the same options w.r.t to cashing out, maintaining. I've yet to see any startup do this though, which to me indicates that the intent is to scam the IC.