I agree this is annoying. But, you're likely to pick up most all of it within 6 months ($25), and learning vim keys will pay back so, so, much more.

For those considering this, just install vim bindings for whatever editor you use. Leave it in insert mode. Bit by bit, you'll start using the commands you learn from Vim Adventures. I rarely use Vim itself, but use its commands in browsers and IDEs.

A year later, you will look at normal text editing people with frustration. It's like watching someone that doesn't know how to use a PC slowly mouse around - that's how much a difference vim makes.

Though you don't really need this game to get started in VIM, but you do need to have practice sessions to try new things which is where this game seems to fit in. Like yourself, I mostly use other editors with Vim emulation, mostly I use VsVim in Visual Studio with Resharper ( I'm slowly creating a guide, though a long way from finished and mostly for myself! https://github.com/keithn/vsvimguide ). There I use a hybrid approach of core vim, vim like binding for resharper, and Resharper/Visual studio bindings. As long as my hands don't have to leave the main part of the keyboard I'm generally happy.

It's insanely easy to code using this combination, and yes, frustrating watching others, and frustrating having to code on PCs not setup with Vim bindings.