I actually like that feature. I try to stay out of insert mode as much as possible. This feature lets me mash C-w or even C-u without worrying about changing text outside the original scope of my edit. I use the c command to change text inside of an html tag (for example) and I like that this protects me from damaging the tag itself.

That's the way vi is supposed to work, since it is based on the paradigm of a modal editor.

I learned vi in vi on UNIX, so the modal way stuck and I can glide and float between vi on UNIX and vim on Linux without getting busted on trying to move with cursor keys. I see Windows/Linux users get busted on that a lot, because they didn't install UNIX at home and learned on that first. It's frustrating to watch them get busted by that in person, over and over again.