Being a Linux kernel and OS developer for a defense company, vim has been my main editor for quite awhile, and I have no issues with the touch bar on my new 2018 MBP. For those that require the tactile feel, there's always remapping caps lock, as well as utilizing other key combos: http://vim.wikia.com/wiki/Avoid_the_escape_key

If muscle memory is that engrained within the user that he or she cannot utilize any of the aforementioned alternatives, nor adapt to the difference in feel of the touch bar, then your choices are either an older iteration of the hardware, or switch completely. Claiming that, "you don't use vim," if you enjoy the new MBPs is, however, off the mark, IMO.

All the cool kids rebind capslock to control and then use Karabiner to set tapping control on its own as escape

Hundred times a day. The escape key is still there in the same position it's always been.

The rest of the TouchBar changes depending on context but the escape key remains fixed. So just like how I don't mind having soft-keys on my iPhone I don't mind it on my MacBook.

Map Esc to jj as gods have intended.

Ctrl [ is nice.