Best options for limiting input ringing with ceramic capacitors
You can consider an active hot-plug controller which solves the spike problem by controlling the charge-up of the input caps. 

You can also consider a passive NTC inrush limiter which remains in the circuit all the time. It will dissipate power constantly like the 1206 resistor in your example, but if chosen appropriately will dissipate much less power (it will be high resistance during startup, and reduce during steady-state operation.

Another technique used when connectors are involved is a precharge pin. The connector is designed such that the first power pins that make contact have a resistance in series, to "slowly" charge the caps. When the rest of the power pins make contact, the precharge resistance is shorted out and doesn't burn any power.