What are the horrible defaults that you find the most problematic? I've found that the default keys for e.g. movement, saving, loafing etc are very productive, and are at worst not much different in efficiency etc. than any other set of choices you could pick.
I find if pressed, most people can't come up with anything excepting that Windows, Mac OS, and the various window managers all chose poorly when it comes to cut / copy / paste and the fact that emacs uses C-w, M-w,and C-y instead is just too mind blowing for them to comprehend.
The movement keys are the best example of horrible defaults. They're all over the place. There are several good options, but my setup uses IJKL for arrow keys, and a bunch of other movement-related keybinds on IJKL and surrounding keys. That's just one example.
I learn to use the tool at hand.
I don't complain that it's hard to give myself a manicure with a chainsaw either.