This is a nice initiative crankypants!
I'm busy presently, but I'd surely like to give it a try (I'll send you a PM).
I think markdown is
very useful for short notes and to begin a writing project.
I tend to use WriteMonkey (
http://writemonkey.com/index.php) because it can export to the default web browser so you can see the source and get html codes easily. Moreover, you can choose different markup standard: nice!
By the way, the main screen looks like an old DOS app!
The fun thing is when you have learned the codes pertaining to your "markdown flavor": you can use it with the most simplistic text editor.
Turtle91, do you use <h6> regularly?

I think I never gone so deep.
PS MarkdownPad (also freeware) is not bad either.