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Ctrl-c and ctrl-[ are not the same. There are times when latter completes the insert session (same as esc) while the former aborts it, e.g. visual block insertion with (ctrl-v jjjj I)

Also, the happy haacking keyboard already puts control in its proper place and puts esc where ~ normally is, which is close enough that you don't really need to remap it. Best vim keyboard ever.

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It's more helpful to think of ctrl-[ as an analog to ESC (this also works in Emacs, irssi, etc as well IIRC). Ctrl-c just happens to work for exiting Insert mode because ctrl-c is the 'abort' command, and technically Insert mode is an operation.

Insert mode is not Vim's 'normal' mode. When you enter Insert Mode, you are basically saying, "I'm stepping out of normal mode for a bit to enter some text here." In this sense, hitting ctrl-c is telling Vim that you're aborting your insert operation. (Though I could just be talking out of my ass, and it was just bound that way as a convenience)

keyboard already puts control in its proper place and puts esc where ~ normally is, which is close enough that you don't really need to remap it

Unicomp makes a Model M that does this as well, very worthwhile if you are a vim or Emacs user: http://pckeyboards.stores.yahoo.net/linux101.html

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