I think there's a difference between thinking options are worth zero, and not buying them or going to companies you expect to be worthless. I doubt most people

I think there's a difference between thinking options are worth zero, and not buying them or going to companies you expect to be worthless. I doubt most people go to a company they expect will literally have no value. If you're going to a private company it's either because you think it will be valuable, you think the work is interesting which could possibly make it valuable, you get an insane salary offer or because you can't find another job. In basically every case, you understand the company has possible value, which could translate into increased wealth. The idea is simply that its not worth anything until it is. Once you're in the company and can feel out the actual trajectory and faith in the business, you can decide if you want to buy the shares. Nearly everyone I've worked with across multiple companies have purchased up most or all their shares, even when they expressed how little faith they had in the company. If you're doing that, what does it matter if you sat down and crunched the numbers? You still got the lottery ticket.