Echoed escape sequences doesn't interpreted in Linux tty

Firstly, this question was asked on Retrocomputing, but the community found it more suitable for this site. But I got an answer in the comment section, so copy it here:

The Linux virtual console emulates a (sort of) VT102 terminal in ON-LINE mode connected to a Linux (serial) tty device. The Linux tty driver doesn't normally echo back the escape control character, and instead echos ^[. If you don't want the tty driver to do this, then use stty -ctlecho. Also real VT102 terminals don't support colour, it works with the Linux virtual console anyways because its not really VT102 compatible.

I have tried the stty -ctlecho and it works almost as expected - only one subquestion - is the real VT102 also wasn't displaying characters after person press ESC and start type escape sequence, so the person were type it in the blind manner?