title: Repeating characters in VIM insert mode
body: <p>Is there a way of repeating a character while in Vim's insert mode?  For example, say I would like to insert 80 dashes, in something like emacs I would type:</p>
  
  <p><kbd>Ctrl</kbd>+<kbd>U</kbd> &nbsp; <kbd>8</kbd> <kbd>0</kbd> <kbd>-</kbd></p>
  
  <p>The only way I know how to do it in VIM is to exit normal mode for the repeat argument, then go back into insert mode to type the dash, then exit to insert the actual dashes, AND then go back into insert mode to carry on typing.  The sequence is a really long:</p>
  
  <p><kbd>Esc</kbd> <kbd>8</kbd> <kbd>0</kbd> <kbd>a</kbd> <kbd>-</kbd> <kbd>Esc</kbd> <kbd>a</kbd></p>
  
  <p>It would be nice not to switch in and out of modes.</p>