[lake99]

You're using the emacs definition of major modes. "Modal editor" has a different meaning. Vim has three modes [1]. Emacs is not considered a modal editor, but some of its features are similar to Vim's last-line mode.

[1] https://alvinalexander.com/linux/vim-vi-mode-editor-command-...

[rerx]

Run Emacs in Evil mode or similar and you get modal editing inside a special editor mode. If anything, Emacs is an extra-modal editor. :)