In vim, you can still move the cursor around when in insert mode. It just isn't that functional and after a while you realize it rather is a beginner's mistake. Anyway, those modes aren't totally separated from each other. There also are shortcuts to quickly do something in another mode.
Having used emacs and vim for several years, I now am in favour of vim's editing modes. The only thing I don't like about it is the column numbering at the first or last position of the line (a problem you become only aware of when developing plugins though).
Having used emacs and vim for several years, I now am in favour of vim's editing modes. The only thing I don't like about it is the column numbering at the first or last position of the line (a problem you become only aware of when developing plugins though).