Sexy idea, but as someone who started using vi in 1987, a software solution seems way better. I map the seldom-otherwise-used key sequence jk to <ESC>. If I were doing it over, kj would be slightly better, for times when I am Just Kidding. I do this in both .vimrc and .inputrc (using different syntax, sigh). My fingers generate the escape without thought. (As is true for tons of vim normal mode actions I use regularly.)