> I use vim and my work-macbook has a touch bar. I haven't really noticed a difference in user experience between the touch-bar version and the physical esc-key on my personal macbook pro without a touch bar.

Of course you don't. You use ctrl+[ or rebind caps lock to esc, and you don't use F-keys with vim. But outside of vim you might use the F-keys or Mac keys. I know I do. Cause I'm too shit with multitouch.