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I fully agree with you, with a small caveat though: the mechanism to use is called IRS section 83b election.

It is applicable when instead of the stock options companies offer restricted stock, in a similar way founder stock works. This should solve the problem for at least early employees, for whom the tax paid upfront will be almost negligible: while the company valuation is still low, the shares are inexpensive.

https://www.cooleygo.com/what-is-a-section-83b-election/