This function will extend the 'delete key' to delete trailing white spaces and empty lines at once. Leading blanks are preserved.

Tested with: Insert Mode, set virtualedit=all, set backspace=2, blanks for ident.

function! Smart_Del(...)
  let line=getline (".")
  let column = col(".")
  let part2= strpart(line, column-1)
  if part2 =~ '^\s*$' && part2!=""
    let part1= strpart(line, 0, column-1)
    call setline (".", part1)
  endif
  iunmap <silent> <DEL>
  execute "normal i\<DEL>\<Esc>"
  if column > 1
    execute "normal l"
  endif
  inoremap <silent> <DEL> <C-o>: call Smart_Del()<CR>
endfunction
inoremap <silent> <DEL> <C-o>: call Smart_Del()<CR>

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