This is very true. I let my own usage patterns and github issues be a guide to what I do next. I don't use ex mode very much, outside from simple substitutions, and I haven't gotten any issues yet either.

I remember reading that the Atom Vim authors believed separating the two was a mistake; they were too intertwined. As much as I'd like to have it be a separate project and not think about it, apparently that doesn't work so well...