Pokud používám ~/.vimrc, volba nocompatible je automaticky zapnutá:
:help 'cp' 'compatible' 'cp' boolean (default on, off when a |vimrc| or |gvimrc| file is found) ... When a |vimrc| or |gvimrc| file is found while Vim is starting up, this option is switched off, and all options that have not been modified will be set to the Vim defaults. Effectively, this means that when a |vimrc| or |gvimrc| file exists, Vim will use the Vim defaults, otherwise it will use the Vi defaults. (Note: This doesn't happen for the system-wide vimrc or gvimrc file, nor for a file given with the |-u| argument). Also see |compatible-default| and |posix-compliance|.
T.j. nevidím důvod přidávat set nocompatible do .vimrc, jak navrhuje článek.