Add #. option for ordered list markdown

Question

The current markdown format for ordered lists is confusing for new users, especially when you go back and edit, switch or remove items. The example in the FAQ shows 1, 2, 7 and says it will be auto numbered which might confuse even more (I wonder how many posts have OLs starting literally with 1, 2, 7). When I edit other's posts I often forget myself when I see weird out of order OLs. I use all 1. when I create them (like I did in this post), but it just seems so arbitrary.

Can the option of using #. be added? Aside from being easier to edit/maintain, it would make skipping numbers or intentionally putting them out-of-order easier.

So:

 #. List item
 #. List item
   #. List item
   #. List item
     #. List item

     ...

     10. List item
   #. List item

Would be:

1. List item

2. List item

   1. List item

   2. List item

      1. List item

      ...

      10. List item

   3. List item

UPDATE:
@Arjan pointed out that this is based on a standard called Markdown (of all things), so I guess that makes changing it not an option.

Answer 1

I see two one major issue:

First, it would be another deviation from official Markdown, without a real need, in my opinion. Remember the data dump, API, et cetera!

Secondly,

or intentionally putting them out-of-order

In fact, browsers do not easily support that for the resulting <ol><li>. It would then need CSS counters to get the list right, hence mixing presentation with content. Not too nice either, I feel. The workarounds are not any better, but at least are clear for whoever/whatever is using the post data.

HTML allows for <ol start="42">, which was deprecated for some time, but is supported again.

Answer 2

You could use "1." for each item of the ordered list.

1. This is an ordered list
1. The list contains three items
1. This is the last one

1. This is an ordered list
2. The list contains three items
3. This is the last one

Markdown renders the ordered list automatically numbering the single items.

In which way do you think #. is better than 1.? If users are not aware that they can simply use 1. for each list item, when it is reported in the help available when editing any post, why do you think they would remember of using #.?

The example list reports the list items are automatically numbered.