I use the function keys and escape key - a lot. The lack of even haptic feedback on the touchbar makes it a big downgrade. Having a touchbar just isn't an option.
I use vim and my work-macbook has a touch bar. I haven't really noticed a difference in user experience between the touch-bar version and the physical esc-key on my personal macbook pro without a touch bar.
Before I actually used the touch bar version I also thought that it wouldn't be easy to use, but as I said, I haven't noticed a difference.
> I use vim and my work-macbook has a touch bar. I haven't really noticed a difference in user experience between the touch-bar version and the physical esc-key on my personal macbook pro without a touch bar.
Of course you don't. You use ctrl+[ or rebind caps lock to esc, and you don't use F-keys with vim. But outside of vim you might use the F-keys or Mac keys. I know I do. Cause I'm too shit with multitouch.
IMO if you're hitting the escape key you're doing it wrong. Remap to caps lock!
I'm a fan of remapping F keys to the numrow as well. But my desktop keyboard is a 60% without F keys anyways. Less for the fingers to move when you use an fn row :)
Before I actually used the touch bar version I also thought that it wouldn't be easy to use, but as I said, I haven't noticed a difference.