[snowwrestler]

Apple could easily persist an ESC virtual button in the same spot. Or provide a user setting to do so.

[mattnedrich]

I think they'll absolutely do this (assuming there isn't a physical ESC key). But, I think the experience would suck for users that are hitting ESC all day (e.g., vim users)

[snowwrestler]

If I were them, I would have kept the physical ESC and power keys at either end and fit the touch bar in between.

They still could; the part in that picture might not be final. (It probably is though.)