Before snipMate came in 2009, snippetsEmu was already out there, since 2005! It's true though, that snipMate may seem more robust.

Check also pkrumins' Vim Plugins You Should Know About:

http://www.catonmat.net/blog/vim-plugins-surround-vim/ http://www.catonmat.net/blog/vim-plugins-repeat-vim/ http://www.catonmat.net/blog/vim-plugins-matchit-vim/ http://www.catonmat.net/blog/vim-plugins-snipmate-vim/ http://www.catonmat.net/blog/vim-plugins-a-vim/ http://www.catonmat.net/blog/vim-plugins-nerdtree-vim/ http://www.catonmat.net/blog/vim-plugins-ragtag-allml-vim/