Not op but yes, I actually do. Dev for about 20 years, and the vast majority showing vim/emacs struggle when presenting. Could be presentation jitters ofc but the answer to:

You think thousands of developers are handicapping themselves for bragging rights?

Yes, yes I do. Thousands is not all, but they are definitively in the thousands

you really think its a giant conspiracy from elitists lying about their experience

Pretty much, yes.

You think thousands of developers are handicapping themselves for bragging rights?

Absolutely. That’s completely normal human behaviour.