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This is true of the original vi but not of modern vim, where both the landing page and the message shown on ctrl+c clearly state how to exit. ctrl+c will also exit insert mode, so you don't need to know about modes or the escape key.

Of course it is possible that one might not think of using ctrl+c, but that's lacking general shell knowledge, not vim knowledge.

Its a terminal program, most people don't know how to deal with those when starting out.

The beginning screen of vim tells you how to exit.

If you do C-c, as normally is the case with TUI programs, Vim also tells you how to leave.

The "I don't know how to exit Vim" is a bit overplayed.

Closing the terminal app is pretty intuitive to me.

Restart your computer if all else fails

Maybe also set fire to the computer to make double sure.