[oblio]

If you have multiple modes you can basically reuse the entire keyboard for commands. That's one advantage that is impossible to achieve in non-modal editors. Ctrl-ing, Alt-ing, Shift-ing stuff just isn't the same, especially as those commands get more and more complex.

[read]

Esc-ping isn't the same either. What makes pressing a key (Escape) to enter a mode better than Ctrl, Alt, Shift to enter a mode?

It's also not true that it's impossible to make other editors work like vi. evil-mode in Emacs lets you work like vi.

[likeclockwork]

You don't press escape to enter a mode, you press escape to leave another mode and return to normal mode.

Most vim users are only in insert mode when... inserting text.