The difference between XOXO microformat and lists?

[CtrlAltDimension]

What is the difference between the XOXO microformat and using regular lists?

The only thing I can seem to find is that XOXO is surrounded by div tags that declare it as XOXO. So what's the point of adding the declaration when it does nothing to aid the list?

One thing I might be able to see is more consistant styling between XOXO lists, but if that's all, why does it have to be XOXO? Why not give all your XOXO lists another ID like "outline" instead? It seems like that would get the job done just as well.

[encyclo]

The reason for the XOXO microformat is that it can be used across many XML variants from generic XML through RSS to XHTML (served as XML). If you are using HTML or XHTML served as HTML then you do not need the XOXO microformat as you are not using XML - and as you have seen, the format follows existing HTML conventions already.

Reference for anyone wanting to know about XOXO:

[microformats.org...]

[CtrlAltDimension]

I've read through the specifications in the microformat wiki, but to be honest, that's a bit technical for me. Rarely do they explain things outside of jargon.

I guess I'd just like to see a quick example about what XOXO can do when served as XML or RSS and what it can't do, and same for when served as HTML.

I think an example might help me divide the concept into the two camps.