What's wrong with Markdown? How could it be improved so less technical people will be more comfortable with it?
I always thought that Markdown was about as user-friendly as such a thing could get, since it was based on the ad-hoc conventions people have developed over the years for email.
It depends. I like using Markdown for writing. Being a 'writer' does not preclude one from being a 'techie'.
I think he only meant to ask about writers who are not techies.