Doesn't vim have way more users these days? I haven't used it myself, but I know a lot of people who do and every IDE has vim bindings whereas I don't think I've seen emacs bindings.

Vim still has a substantial user base that won't/can't quit.

By admitting defeat with evil mode.

Reminds me of Kobayashi Maru (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kobayashi_Maru)