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If you use firefox, try the "it's all text" plugin (although I don't know for sure if it works with the new gmail compose). You can write in the editor of your choice.

Nope, new compose breaks that as well, and it used to work fine. Guess it's finally time to switch to mutt.

There is a hotkey editor in labs which you might find handy.

Settings > labs > Custom keyboard shortcuts

if you are on a Mac you can use QuickCursor and edit your mail in vi :) it works in any application that uses a standard Cocoa text box. http://www.hogbaysoftware.com/products/quickcursor