It'd be cool if the mechanisms by which companies are rewarded and punished reflected that idea.
Steve's company is now one of the three largest in the US. The other one was bought out. The lesson from history seems to be "you can have a little illegal non-compete. As a treat."
There are about a billion other reasons why Apple is so successful today. It really has nothing to do with the illegal non-compete, considering most of its astronomical growth came post-Steve, something most people fail to understand.
Steve's company is now one of the three largest in the US. The other one was bought out. The lesson from history seems to be "you can have a little illegal non-compete. As a treat."