The one time I tried Helix, I could find no way to switch from noun-verb syntax to vim's noun-verb syntax, is it possible now?

No. Noun-verb is central to the design. Everything is built around it.

The best writing about this is "Why Kakoune" (Kakoune inspired Helix): https://kakoune.org/why-kakoune/why-kakoune.html

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* Too late to edit but of course I meant Vim's verb-noun syntax.

Not really, there is a config and some patches (helix-Vim IIRC) that gets you close, but it is still different. It also feels like you're throwing out helix main selling point.