when I press the cancel button I get an alarm bell and the mode sits where it was... no help!
In vi this is what I get.
# vi tmp
oreo
~
~
~
"tmp" [New File]
:wq
Press i to go to insert mode, press esc (cancel) to leave insert mode.
:wq writes and quits, :q! quits without saving
If I press cancel more than once, it beeps.