I agree with your perspective in general: I think that often we underestimate the power of our intuitive reactions (particularly in the tech world, where we often embrace that platonic notion of rationality as a tool to suppress emotion and instinct rather than something working with it).

In this case, I do think it's difficult because these sorts of manipulators thrive on making a good first impression. But in general I think that we in the tech world undervalue our trained instincts.