The only keyboard shortcut for org-mode and markdown-mode I consistently remember is C-c C-l for inserting links. Much easier to remember that than to remember the syntax, and the fact that both modes use the same easy-to-remember shortcut is a major win.
Sadly, most other keybindings differ between org-mode, markdown-node, and auctex. I would have loved more consistency, and often end up typing the syntax instead of tripping up keybindings.
