What I have found is that ALL editors have modes. Most default to edit mode, and require key sequences to invoke other commands (Ctrl, Alt, Shift, Function keys, Menu choices, etc), then drop you back into edit mode.

Vi chose _a_ way of working. Turns out, a lot of folks have taken to it over the years. (And a lot haven't. They're nice people, too) :)

EDIT: fixed a typo