That is certainly an alternative, but I think I’m in the group that would prefer no note over a trash note. That way it is easier to find through some sort of database search [pseudo code: select all edits where count(edit_notes) = 0 or first(edit_note_author) != edit_editor] for follow-up or special processing consideration (e.g.: extending the voting/review period, forcing a review period for what would otherwise be an auto-edit, or requiring at least one vote before allowing the edit to be applied). Unfortunately, special processing consequences again drives “bad” editors to putting in trash edit notes to get around them. Thus I would rather try to educate editors.
This also (sort of) supports the concepts introduced by @Zas in: Idea: Editor experience points