The way that most Vim users use modes is like using "StickyKeys" on your Shift/Control/Option keys. You smack "i" or "a" to go into insert mode just for the duration that you need it, and then you smack Escape the moment that you stop typing, even if it's just pausing to think.
Also, if you use a GUI version of Vim, then it knows about "paste" and doesn't make the mistake of interpreting your paste buffer as keystrokes.
I think this is the key to vim. It's a revelation or a turning point in how you use it. You change to insert mode to insert text; you don't change to normal mode (to do text operations) as you're already in normal model.
Also, if you use a GUI version of Vim, then it knows about "paste" and doesn't make the mistake of interpreting your paste buffer as keystrokes.