For my first FH game, I plan to make NCM optional - but with a few catches. First, it won't be common but it also won't be unsual for spells to be written with NCM in mind. I'm not quite sure what euphemism to use: fated, blessed, epic, something like that, but it'll come up for some Detect spells and power Limiations (Only works on "Fated" characters).
The other catch will be that most, if not all racial packages will include NCM, although each race is also likely to have slightly altered NCMs (higher STR/lower INT, that sort of thing). My philosphy is that these packages will also be optional (your character can be an Orc with or w/o the package, but the package has some benefits), and even if they do use a package there's nothing forcing them to buy up stats above the maximums.
Characters who don't pick NCM or any racial packages have more freedom, but some spells will be designed specifically for them, and the packages will include some advantages they can't get elsewhere (aside from a modified NCM). For example, I don't like flying characters, they complicate things a lot, so I plan to put a minimum of 30pts or so on Flight. However, since it's my game and I'm writing up the racial packeges, I'll be perfectly happy to give Gargolyes or some other kind of Winged Folk Flight at below minimum cost because it's part of an overall package.