Whatever. I signed an agreement to repay (prorated) before five years over twenty years ago when these things were also quite common, and happily did so. It was clearly an inducement to not cut and run, there’s no way the repayment balances out the terribly high cost of the turnover event for the company. All this was obvious back then too. But I was quite grateful for what I was getting because it helped move my career forward and was totally worth it.

Let's all not forget the most "voluntary" contract of all: the "social contract" between the lowly individual and the all-powerful state. Apparently there wasn't a power differential there, right? Purely consensual and I had full choice in not signing it.

Okay, but the social contract defends you from the violence of everyone else starting a few months before you're actually born. Sure, it might not be a great contract even given that, and I agree it should be easier to shop around the social contract you want (or that there should be the option not to have one a la seasteading). But given how much it provides before someone is able to understand the terms of a contract like that, it makes sense for it to be opt-in.