VIP mode, was: vi "TMP file too large" error

[David Lesher]

I asked this before, but never got a definite reply.

Is it possible, in VIP mode, or elseways, to have a SAFE key in emacs?
By this I mean a key that REGARDLESS of what you are doing, or what
weird mode you have stumbled into, hitting it 1->n times gets you to a
fixed mode. Note that 'undo' does NOT do this. This would be expressly
for a limited function editor for neophyte email users.

A good example of SAFE is vi's <ESC> command. You hit it once, twice, n
times. It always leaves you in command mode. If you hit it too many
times, at worst it beeps.

Without some such "safehaven" I cannot see how you can try to teach the
masses how to use any shell built around emacs. One wrong step......

Ideas?

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