I use this plugin and when I press esc the window won't close.
Why are you using revision 896? Why not use r4600 which comes with the 0.9.8 download?
Ehr yeah, the plugin is just old, some keys won't work with it in combination with newer PCSX2 versions, includes F7/F8/F9/Tab/Esc and some others I guess...
I use the plugin because the plugin that comes from the new emulator hangs in God of War 1 in the Part where you will need to get Poseidon's Trident. Well managed to pass through there by changing the GPU plugin.