Vim: O and o should respect/understand current context (lists):

Here is a solution which uses a minor workaround, since the vimrc plugin does not allow ex-commands to be mapped together with normal commands, but well, it does work.

Requires the vimrc plugin and the code editor shortcuts plugin. Copypaste the following into your obsidian.vimrc

" Make o and O respect context
exmap blankBelow obcommand obsidian-editor-shortcuts:insertLineBelow
exmap blankAbove obcommand obsidian-editor-shortcuts:insertLineAbove
nmap &a& :blankAbove
nmap &b& :blankBelow
nmap o &b&i
nmap O &a&i