I am ready to deploy templating functionality here at SL. For it to work properly I'd like to change the syntax.

1. sidebars would start with '=>' and '=<' instead of '|>' and '|<'
2. change of escape character ('!') or headings '!' .. '!!!'.

I think that (1) is not controversial, but I'd like your input on issue (2). I see the following options:

1. headings remain '!' .. '!!!', escape char is changed to backtick _`_
2. headings remain '!' .. '!!!', escape char is changed to tilde '~'
3. escape char remains '!', headings change to '==' .. '====' (like Wikipedia, but without the closing '==')

Which of these three options do you prefer?

Dieter votes 2. Incidentally I agree with Alex that paragraph importance should decrease with an increasing number of !-marks, but I am not patriotic about it if it incurs a major refactoring.

Herman Hiddema: I like 3 best, and 2 better than 1. :-)

I also agree that paragraph importance should decrease with more !'s, so ! = heading, !! = subheading, !!! = subsubheading.

I have also, recently, made newer better images for stones in text the ... , but now including .... I will mail you about that

I prefer 3 as well, as I think moving toward commonality with well used systems is a benefit. I also vote for the MediaWiki? style of increasing equal signs means deeper sub-headings.