[temo4ka]

> how emphasized the bullet lists need to be

Exactly. For me, the indented list emphasizes the distinct structural entity, contrasting it against the bulk of the text. This makes lists easier to recognize (especially the short ones in narrow columns, like in your example) while previewing and skimming the reading material. You mention pattern recognition at the start of the article, and this is exactly the thing that makes pattern recognition easier, for me at least. And I would prefer “practically useful” over “typographically correct” every time :-).

[matejlatin]

>And I would prefer “practically useful” over “typographically correct” every time :-).

That is a good guideline.

[djrobstep]

Spaced paragraphs are another good example of this. Apparently they "make skilled typographers cringe" but break the text up arguably more clearly, and look fine, at least to an unsophisticated rube like me.