ctrl-[ can also be used as escape (I think escape sends that control sequence in the terminal).
With caps-lock mapped to ctrl, typing it is not too far off from the home-row.
I mapped caps lock to escape.
I have 20+ years of muscle memory that pushes my pinky into that upper-left-hand corner. No way that's going to change.
If you want to try it, grab https://karabiner-elements.pqrs.org/
Activate the complex modification called "Change caps_lock to control if pressed with other keys, to escape if pressed alone".
Now you have a capslock key that doubles as control and escape and your pinky can begin recovering from the decades of abuse.
That's where Control belongs!
FYI there are various utilities (Hammerspoon and Karabiner Elements, off the top of my head) that can make caps lock act as escape if pressed and released, control if used in conjunction with other keys. This took some getting used to, but thanks to the Touch Bar, I got used to it and now I find it invaluable. YMMV of course.
I agree with both of you :)
https://karabiner-elements.pqrs.org/ has an option that maps caps lock to control when press in conjunction with another key and as escape when pressed alone
My new job just sent me a new MacBook, and I was dreading it. I'm happy to report that it has a physical Escape key (smaller and imperfect, but sufficient), and the keyboard feels better overall. I still don't want the TouchBar, and still get no use out of it, but it no longer enrages me. I'm open to accepting and even embracing it if I ever see a good use case. One thing that continues to bother me is that it changes as I'm typing, and I don't want that. But I can see a path for apps to use it in a positive way.