Mind that input + datalist is the HTML equivalent of the Windows combobox, once generally regarded as the worst UI element ever. (This was enjoying meme status in usability related articles and write-ups. So probably not a recommendation.)
(We may observe how the implementation of datalist reflects this: it's still a simple textbox, i.e. input element, and the list is attached as an add-on, rather than being a list type of its own. It's not a list standing on its own, but an enhancement to the input field. So, rather don't use it as a control element for lists?)
PS: The point was really that, if you were to google "worst interface element", you got loads of articles about the combobox.