Thanks for the input guys. I agree, it's always best to make sure you're on the proper side of the home switch before homing, but on this machine, the x-travel is only ~4.5" and the home switch is closer to the center of travel than the end; i.e. not always obvious if you're slightly to the wrong side of home.
I like you're idea greolt, unfortunately, Hardinge had a way of cramming an obscene amount of mechanics/electronics in very small spaces. Not to mention the fact that the mechanism that trips the home switch (and limit switches) on the x-axis is very elaborate and I'd rather not modify it to hold the home switch on if you're on the wrong side. On an easier machine, definitely the way to go I would say though.
I wrote up a quick Brain to monitor the limit switches and trip a stop if it sees one. I didn't figure Mach would be monitoring the limit inputs at all (the LEDs don't light on the diagnostic screen when you come on a limit and you're homing) but the brain does seem to trip the estop still.
Thanks again, hopefully this will work!
-Ryan