You are missing a subtle issue: let's say you want to type the numbers 1-3 above each other. If you send 1NL2NL3 the result will be a set of stairs

  1
   2
    3

Since after typing the digit the writing head is behind that character. You have to add a backspace to go back one column. 1NLBS2NLBS3 which then pushes the Cursor back to the right column.

Once you add more than one character per row its all over anyways.