> contract I had with that company they refused to change anything justified by it being a “template”

yeah that's the thing. Firstly, that's not how templates work. Secondly, that's not how contracts work. And if they won't or can't change it, then what does that say about the rest of your experience working there?

As for non-competes. They are illegal in some places. And unenforceable. But there's a difference between "technically unenforceable" and "they're still going to take you to court and you have to defend that, which is expensive".