There's a couple things I don't like about the data merge and print merge methods for CorelDRAW and Adobe InDesign. Each number object is created on a different page. There doesn't appear to be any easy or quick way to auto-generate a sequential series of separate numbered objects on the same page or art board. Copying and pasting from a spreadsheet or text file appears to be the most direct way in CorelDRAW.
I like being able to see all the numbered items on the same page to see (and fix) number spacing issues more easily. I don't like the default tabular lining figures that are likely to flow in from a separate program, be it Excel, Word Pad or even Notepad. Numbers with tabular lining often have ugly spacing gaps, particularly around the number 1. If you can select all the numbers at once on the same page they can all be changed from tabular lining to proportional lining in just a couple clicks. Proportional lining figures look a lot better for numbered signs. Default tabular lining is best for multiple numbered objects containing two or more numbers each are stacked above each other in lists or equations. Great for spreadsheets, but usually not so great on signs. Not all fonts contain proportional lining figures (or old style figures, numerators, denominators, etc).
If you're printing, cutting or doing a bit of both it's nice to be able to have more visual control over how the objects are arranged (or nested) before they're print or cut.
