I'm confused with this specific example. If you have to enter the data, why not just enter it in the UL and cut down on the amount of code in the page? Granted, this example is small, but why assign data to a variable and then enter that actual data for the variable in the html?

 The point should be able to be given an xml file or a comma-delimited text file, or excel or whatever that has scads of information that one would want to utilize in the given format. Then, a small generic script is written to say "go to the file and grab column A and assign it the variable "name" then, put that value in the page here.."

A template seems to just be a different approach to a plug-in just like an ipod cast is just a mp3