Yeah most of the stuff that is ostensibly the purpose of classic non compete agreements is well handled by NDAs and explicit agreements not to poach clients/workers, if I understand things? It's still okay to block the use of secret information or professional contacts from your former company.

From a free market perspective, it's burdensome to make someone with experience in a sector stop working in that sector, even if that's what their career is about.

> It's still okay to block the use of secret information or professional contacts from your former company.

Indeed, and trade secrets are already protected federally by the Uniform Trade Secrets Act

Explicit agreements not to poach workers are also illegal in sane labor markets (California, for example).

Yep, had a non-compete working at an isp in Hawaii. It felt really scummy to sign that on my first day because I knew it would make it difficult to work in the tech sector when most other companies are within a very small radius and are all "competitors".

I did see one guy leave after 6 months and go directly back to his old job at a competitor and the CEO just grumbled about it and did nothing. It was kinda badass.